PCCI backs DTI push to amend law on government procurement

MANILA, Philippines — The country’s largest business organization is backing the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in the push to amend the Government Procurement Reform Act in a bid to help local manufacturers amid the ongoing pandemic.

In a statement yesterday, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) president George Barcelon said the group fully supports the DTI’s initiative to push for amendments in Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act that would promote the purchase of locally made products.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez shared with leaders of PCCI during the group’s recent virtual courtesy call the DTI’s push for the inclusion of provisions in the law that would allow bidding solely for locally manufactured products certified by the government.

“In the budget discussions in Congress, we have been pushing for the Buy Local, Go Local program to be incorporated in the government procurement policy, meaning we want to have biddings only for all Filipino-made products that are certified by the government. Everybody in Congress agrees to it, even the opposition senators, but some quarters were afraid as it might be abused,” Lopez said.

DTI’s Buy Local, Go Local campaign aims to encourage Filipinos to patronize locally made products and services and promote the country’s micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Lopez said the proposal would not serve as a general policy, but would be a special program to help MSMEs bounce back from the pandemic and provide opportunities for them to recover and grow.

He said the DTI wants the initial implementation to cover the manufacture of healthcare products.

Barcelon said the DTI’s initiative would bring hope and encourage MSMEs to start anew and eventually, contribute to economic growth.

“The Buy Local, Go Local is certainly a good platform that PCCI and DTI can work with. We hope that we can convince our legislatures to pass this measure or at least come up with a policy that will provide support and boost the recovery of our MSMEs. This is one way of helping them recover and thrive again,” he said.

Majority of PCCI’s members are small and medium businesses.

PCCI vice president Perry Ferrer said the PCCI is closely working with all sectors to strengthen the local manufacturing of electronics, automotive, and food products.

“We are actively developing local sources and through PCCI, we are bringing MSMEs into the picture,” he said.

Barcelon also proposed for the DTI to come up with skills training aligned with the Investment Priorities Plan, which serves as the transitional Strategic Investment Priority Plan and identifies activities qualified for incentives.

“We are talking of high-skilled jobs that we need to create because a lot of times foreign companies would come and they would find skills mismatch. If TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority) is properly nurtured and focusing in tandem with IPP, that would really attract investment that would go up the value chain,” he said.