Government starts online procurement of supplies, equipment next week

MANILA, Philippines — All procurement activities for common-use supplies and equipment (CSE) of government agencies should be made online starting next week, according to the Procurement Service (PS) of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

In an advisory posted on its website, the PS said the full-scale application of the virtual store for the procurement of CSE would start on Jan. 15.

“Starting Jan. 15 all purchases for common-use supplies and equipment shall be made using the virtual store,” the Procurement Service said.

“Manual submission of agency procurement requests at the PS main office will no longer be entertained,” it said.

To ensure a smooth transition to the VS, the PS said agencies should register in the VS website to create their accounts, upload their annual procurement plans for CSE items, and ensure the availability of funds in their electronic wallets.

The virtual store was launched in 2018 by the DBM, PS and the Government Procurement Policy Board-Technical Support Office (GPPB-TSO).

The use of the virtual store for CSE orders is pursuant to Republic Act 9184 and Government Procurement Policy Board Resolution 20-2019.

With the portal, the DBM said agencies would be allowed to pay for their purchases using their e-Wallet for ease of transaction.

Supplies will be delivered within three days for agencies within Metro Manila, or may be picked up from the nearest depot.

According to the DBM, the virtual store seeks to streamline and improve the efficiency of the country’s public procurement system.

It would also improve transparency in procurement since opportunities to trade with the government and ensuing transactions are provided online.

The virtual store is a key feature of the modernized Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (mPhilGEPS), a centralized electronic portal for public procurement activities.

According to the DBM, the mPhilGEPS will enable contractors, merchants and consultants to participate in the procurement of goods, civil works and consultancy services through online bid submission and payment.

It will also feature an e-Reverse Auction where merchants and contractors will be allowed to outbid one another. Data analytics will also be incorporated for the generation of statistical procurement reports.