By Mariamme D. Jadloc
(DEC. 5)—It was a welcome though unexpected turnout as close to 400 UP personnel took part in the “Seminar on the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 9184, Including Updates and Latest Issuances” on Dec. 1-2 at the NISMED (National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development) Auditorium.
Faculty, REPS and administrative staff from UP Diliman (UPD), UP Los Baños, UP Manila, UP System and UP Open University were at the seminar to learn more about RA 9184 or the “Government Procurement Reform Act” that is necessary for their respective office’s procurement needs.
RA 9184 was signed into law on Jan. 10, 2003 by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and took effect on Jan. 26, 2003. The law states that all procurement made by the national government shall be guided by the five principles: transparency in procurement process and implementation of procurement contracts; competitiveness through equal opportunity for contracting parties to participate in public bidding; streamlined procurement process; system of accountability by both public officials and contracting parties of their actions; and public monitoring of the procurement process and awarding of contracts pursuant to the provisions of the Act.
Prof. Dan A. Saguil, Acting Director of the UPD Supply and Property Management Office (SPMO), said the seminar was initially tailored for UPD, but extended invitations to the constituent universities as the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Administration (OVCA) offices saw this would also benefit the rest of the UP system.
Seminar organizers UPD-SPMO and Human Resources Development Office (HRDO) underscored the importance of understanding and adhering to the law particularly now that the national government is bent on closely watching agencies follow the set standards to avoid excessive or unlawful purchases.
Saguil said cooperation of all UP units is key to effectively implement RA 9184. The seminar was conducted inorder to ensure that UPD abides with RA 9184, to share knowledge on the effective and efficient planning, implementing and monitoring of procurement activities while maximizing University resources through cost-effective procurement of goods, services and infrastructure projects.
Seminar topics include the RA 9184 overview, standardized bidding procedures for goods and infrastructure projects, consulting services, penal civil and administrative provisions, protest mechanism and blacklisting guidelines, and alternative methods of procurement. Resource speakers were experts Dir. Noel V. Salumbides (Civil Service Commission), Dir. Aida N. Carpentero (Department of Education), Atty. Jennifer M. Torril (Government Procurement Policy Board-Technical Support Office) and Engr. Encarnacion V. Esmino (Commission on Audit).
In a related development, HRDO conducted for UPD an orientation on Effective Quality Management System (ISO 9001-2008) participated in by the offices under the Office of the Chancellor and offices under the five vice chancellors on Dec. 5 at the Office of the University Registrar. The orientation sought to assist the offices in achieving excellence of service to their respective publics.—Photo courtesy of the Supply and Property Maintenance Office