GMA creates procurement transparency board

President Arroyo has created the Procurement Transparency Board (PTB) to ensure that all public sector contracts are aboveboard.

Under Executive Order 662, the PTB will coordinate closely with the Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) in monitoring the implementation of government projects, particularly in the area of procurement.

“There is a need for a body to monitor compliance to anti-graft mechanism to deter anomalies in the awarding of public sector contracts and to prevent losses due to procurement irregularities,” read the EO.

Mrs. Arroyo said the PTB will enhance the GPPB’s efficiency and effectivity in protecting the national interest in all matters affecting public procurement.

The PTB will monitor compliance of the project proponents and contractors to the procurement guidelines laid out under existing laws and recommend to the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission sanctions and other appropriate actions against violators, she added.

Mrs. Arroyo also created a Pro-Performance Team to ensure the efficient implementation of all public infrastructure projects.

Presidential Management Staff chief Cerge Remonde would head the multi-sectoral Pro-Performance Team.

Remonde said the team would look into implementation of the infrastructure projects and remove all obstacles on the way to efficiency.

The Church is represented in the team through the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines and the Bishops-Businessmen Conference, he added.

Remonde named Fr. Anton Pascual of Caritas Manila as one of the members of his team.

“This is just part of reiterating the long-held policy of the President and the government of promoting transparency especially in infrastructure projects,” he said.

“Especially as you know, the legacy projects of the government in the last three years are all infrastructure so the President would want to ensure that all these projects will be implemented in full transparency and efficiency.”  – Marvin Sy