Diokno said the new system is designed to provide a more competitive and fair environment for its business partners and clients as it taps the facilities of the Internet technology to revolutionize its procurement schemes.
"The EPS will enhance transparency in public procurement activities, provide an even playing field for all suppliers, generate more savings for government agencies because they will be able to procure the best quality products at the lowest possible price," Diokno said.
The budget chief spearheaded the launching yesterday of the first phase of the electronic procurement system (EPS), an unprecedented government initiative in response to the global challenge of establishing an "e-government."
He said by moving into the realm of "e-government", the National Government could increase its productivity and reduce costs while providing the citizenry access to a vast array of service using Internet technology.
Diokno said the first phase of the EPS will provide a 24-hour on line service for all procurement needs featuring the services of a Public Tender Board (PTB), Central Supplier Registry and Electronic Catalogue that can be accessed through the DBM’s Procurement Service (PS) website.
PTB would be the primary interface to suppliers for general information relating to doing business with government, supplier registration and accessing past, current and planned opportunities.
According to Diokno, PTB would act as the government portal for business opportunities that will link the electronic catalogues and the central client registry.
A central supplier registry (CSR), on the other hand, will support the supplier registration process and access controls within the system. It will provide the necessary contact information and e-mail addresses for basic registration and such other documents required by the government that may be necessary to maintain integrity of the supplier registry.
CSR would streamline the current processes needed to locate potential suppliers to be invited to bid and assure government agencies that they are only dealing with accredited or approved suppliers.
He said they would also provide electronic catalogue which lists product lines available, indexed and categorized for convenience.
EPS is a project of the DBM’s procurement service which is supported by the Canadian International Development Agency.