The passage of the New Government Procurement Act (NGPA), signed into law by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., ushered in game changing reforms in government procurement. Among these is the Most Economically Advantageous Responsive Bid (MEARB), which Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman described as a breakthrough for ensuring that government projects are both cost-effective and of enduring value—in line with the directive of President Bongbong Marcos that every peso of public funds must be spent wisely and with measurable impact for the Filipino people.

 

"Hindi na po tayo limitado sa pinakamurang presyo lang. Sa Most Economically Advantageous Responsive Bid, masisiguro natin na sulit ang bawat gamit at proyekto ng gobyerno. Hindi lang mura, kundi dekalidad at maaasahan," Secretary Pangandaman emphasized.

 

According to the Budget Secretary, having the MEARB alongside the lowest calculated bid (LCRB) will strike a balance between cost effectiveness and broader value considerations in procurement decisions, ensuring a fit-for-purpose approach.

 

"We have incorporated the Most Economically Advantageous Responsive Bid alongside the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid (LCRB) as an option for evaluating offers. In using the MEARB, the procuring entities may consider added value in terms of energy consumption, maintenance, sustainability, disposal costs, [and other qualitative standards they deem important to the project,]" the Budget Secretary explained.(1)

 

The MEARB method introduces a new approach for determining the winning bid for Procurement of Goods and Infrastructure Projects by considering both the overall cost and the quality of the Goods or project, rather than solely focusing on the lowest bid price.

 

Under MEARB, procuring entitites (PEs) uses a quality-price ratio to evaluate bids. This allows PEs to assess the quality component based on a predefined set of criteria and assign appropriate weights to both quality and price.

 

The new law allows for the consideration of various criteria in assessing the quality of the procurement project. This ensures that the selected bid offers the best value in terms of both cost and quality.

 

By incorporating both qualitative and quantitative factors, the MEARB will enhance decision-making in public procurement, promoting the selection of bids that provide high-quality outcomes at a reasonable cost.

 

"Hindi na po malilimitahan ang mga procuring entities sa pinakamurang presyo sa merkado pero hindi naman angkop sa pangangailangan ng proyekto. (2) Through the MEARB, we can ensure that the best and winning bid will provide us with high-quality outcomes at a reasonable cost," (3) Secretary Amenah said.

 

###

 

 

Ika-23 ng Setyembre 2025

 

 

Ang pagpasa ng New Government Procurement Act (NGPA), na nilagdaan bilang batas ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., ay nagdulot ng game changing na reporma sa procurement ng gobyerno. Kabilang sa mga ito ang Most Economically Advantageous Responsive Bid (MEARB), na inilarawan ni Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman bilang isang pambihirang tagumpay para matiyak na ang mga proyekto ng gobyerno ay parehong cost-effective at may pangmatagalang halaga—alinsunod sa direktiba ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos na ang bawat piso ng pampublikong pondo ay dapat gastusin nang matalino at may masusukat na epekto para sa mamamayang Pilipino.

 

"Hindi na po tayo limitado sa pinakamurang presyo lang. Sa Most Economically Advantageous Responsive Bid, masisiguro natin na sulit ang bawat gamit at proyekto ng gobyerno. Hindi lang mura, kundi dekalidad at maaasahan," pagbibigay-diin ni Secretary Pangandaman.

 

Ayon sa Budget Secretary, ang pagkakaroon ng MEARB kasama ang lowest calculated bid (LCRB) ay magbibigay ng balanse sa pagitan ng cost-effectiveness at mas malawak na value considerations sa mga desisyon sa procurement, na tinitiyak ang isang fit-for-purpose approach.

 

"We have incorporated the Most Economically Advantageous Responsive Bid alongside the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid (LCRB) as an option for evaluating offers. In using the MEARB, the procuring entities may consider added value in terms of energy consumption, maintenance, sustainability, disposal costs, [and other qualitative standards they deem important to the project,]" pagpapaliwanag ng Budget Secretary.

 

Ipinakikilala ng MEARB method ang bagong diskarte para sa pagtukoy ng nanalong bid para sa Procurement of Goods and Infrastructure Projects sa pamamagitan ng pagsasaalang-alang sa parehong kabuuang gastos at kalidad ng Goods o proyekto, sa halip na tumuon lamang sa pinakamababang presyo ng bid.

 

Sa ilalim ng MEARB, ang procurement entities (PEs) ay gumagamit ng quality-price na ratio para suriin ang bids. Pinahihintulutan nito ang PEs na masuri ang quality component base sa isang predefined set ng criteria at magtalaga ng mga naaangkop na timbang sa parehong kalidad at presyo.

 

Pinahihintulutan ng bagong batas ang pagsasaalang-alang ng iba’t ibang pamantayan sa pagsusuri ng kalidad ng procurement project. Tinitiyak nito na ang napiling bid ay nag-aalok ng pinakamahusay na halaga sa mga tuntunin ng parehong gastos at kalidad.

 

Sa pamamagitan ng pagsasama ng parehong qualitative at quantitative factors, ang MEARB ay magpapahusay ng decision-making sa public procurement, na nagpo-promote ng pagpili ng mga bid na nagbibigay ng mataas na kalidad na mga resulta sa isang makatwirang halaga.

 

"Hindi na po malilimitahan ang mga procuring entities sa pinakamurang presyo sa merkado pero hindi naman angkop sa pangangailangan ng proyekto. Through the MEARB, we can ensure that the best and winning bid will provide us with high-quality outcomes at a reasonable cost," pahayag ni Secretary Amenah.

 

###