Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah "Mina" F. Pangandaman, who also chairs the Government Procurement Policy Board, led the signing of the first-ever Statement of Cooperation on public procurement in the East Asia Pacific on 29 April 2025.

 

The ceremonial signing was held on the second day of the East Asia and the Pacific International Public Procurement Conference, together with the heads of procurement regulatory agencies from participating East Asia Pacific countries and representatives from the World Bank.

 

"As we sign the first-ever Statement of Cooperation on public procurement in the East Asia Pacific, we are expressing our shared commitment to fostering sustained partnerships and continued knowledge exchange among our countries," Sec. Mina expressed.

 

"Regional cooperation offers a more effective solution, enabling us to build smarter, more inclusive procurement systems through game-changing reforms that ultimately uplift the lives of our people," she added.

 

By leading the signing of the Statement of Cooperation, the Philippines underscores its strong commitment to advancing regional collaboration and shaping a more transparent, inclusive, and sustainable public procurement landscape across East Asia and the Pacific.

 

The Statement also reflects a shared aspiration among participating countries to work together in advancing public procurement systems that are transparent, inclusive, and resilient. Among its goals are promoting professional development and ethical standards; using digital tools and innovation;  supporting inclusive and sustainable procurement, particularly for MSMEs and women; and encouraging knowledge sharing and regional collaboration.

 

The East Asia and the Pacific International Public Procurement Conference concludes today, 30 April 2025, with a ceremonial turnover of the upcoming procurement conference to the next host country, Thailand.