Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Secretary Rolando “Rolly” U. Toledo reaffirmed the government’s commitment to accelerate procurement modernization and strengthen public trust as he delivered the keynote message during the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) 25th Anniversary celebration at the PICC on Thursday, 21 November 2025.

 

“Procurement is not paperwork—it is public trust in motion. Every transparent transaction is a Filipino family protected,” OIC-Secretary Toledo said, emphasizing that PhilGEPS’ silver milestone is both a celebration of progress and a reminder that reform must continue with even greater urgency and humility.

 

OIC-Secretary Toledo underscored that the administration remains firmly committed to sustaining and deepening the reforms initiated under former Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman, whose leadership championed open government, digital transformation, and procurement modernization.

 

In recent years, the Philippines has implemented some of the most far-reaching procurement reforms in its history. At the center of these efforts is the proposed New Government Procurement Act (NGPA), a comprehensive modernization of procurement rules aimed at aligning the country with global standards. The measure mandates digital-by-default processes, tamper-proof documentation, enhanced competition, and stronger anti-corruption safeguards—ushering in a more agile and transparent procurement ecosystem.

 

Complementing the NGPA is the full modernization of PhilGEPS, including the upgraded Open Data Portal which makes procurement information—from planning to implementation—fully accessible to the public. This digital ecosystem empowers citizens, journalists, researchers, and watchdogs to scrutinize public spending in real time.

 

Former DBM Secretary Pangandaman, in a video message shared at the event, highlighted PhilGEPS’ indispensable role in government service delivery. “Without PhilGEPS, the fulfillment of PS-DBM’s mandate as the central procurement arm for common-use supplies and equipment would not be possible at the scale and pace required for efficient government service. It is because of PhilGEPS—developed and operated by PS-DBM—that we enjoy tools like the Virtual Store, eMarketplace, eBidding Facility, ePayment, merchant registry, and the open data portal,” she said.

 

These reforms, OIC-Secretary Toledo noted, are reinforced by new interoperability tools, expanded e-bidding capabilities, stronger protest and review mechanisms, and a more robust capacity-building program across agencies—all geared toward a procurement landscape that is faster, smarter, and more resilient against fraud and misuse.

 

He also lauded the recent global recognition received by the Philippines at the Open Government Partnership (OGP) 2025 Global Summit in Spain, where the country won both the Anti-Corruption Category and the Asia-Pacific Regional Award. These honors, he stressed, reflect the credibility of Philippine reforms and serve as motivation to pursue even more ambitious transparency initiatives.

 

“If the next 25 years of governance are to be defined by transparency, trust, and integrity, it will be because you chose to stay, you chose to serve, and you chose to stand as one,” Toledo told PS-DBM and PhilGEPS personnel.

 

PS-DBM Executive Director Genmaries Entredicho-Caong likewise expressed gratitude to former DBM Secretary Pangandaman for her decisive support, and lauded the continuity ensured under OIC-Secretary Toledo.

 

“We are certain that under the leadership of our DBM OIC-Secretary Rolly, the transformative reforms we initiated will not only continue but strengthen. Sir Rolly is no stranger to PS-DBM, having held key positions in the DBM. Public procurement is in good hands as it continues to shape the future of our country’s public financial management,” she said. “Secretary Rolly, you have our full support. We don’t simply wish you success—we will work with you to achieve it.”

 

 

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Muling iginiit ni Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Secretary Rolando “Rolly” U. Toledo ang matibay na commitment ng pamahalaan na pabilisin ang procurement modernization at palakasin ang tiwala ng publiko. Ito ang kanyang mensahe bilang keynote speaker sa pagdiriwang ng 25th Anniversary ng Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) sa PICC noong Huwebes, 21 Nobyembre 2025.

 

“Procurement is not paperwork—it is public trust in motion. Every transparent transaction is a Filipino family protected,” ani OIC-Secretary Toledo, na nagsabing ang silver milestone ng PhilGEPS ay selebrasyon ng progreso at paalala na dapat tuloy-tuloy at mas pabilisin pa ang reporma, nang may kababaang-loob at paninindigan.

 

Binigyang-diin din ni OIC-Secretary Toledo na nananatiling buo ang commitment ng administrasyon na ipagpatuloy at palalimin ang mga repormang sinimulan ni dating Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman, na naging pangunahing tagapagtaguyod ng open government, digital transformation, at procurement modernization.

 

Sa mga nagdaang taon, malalalim at malawakang reporma sa procurement ang naisakatuparan sa bansa. Pinaka-sentro nito ang proposed New Government Procurement Act (NGPA), na naglalayong i-modernize ang procurement rules at iayon ito sa global standards. Nagtatakda ito ng digital-by-default na proseso, tamper-proof documents, mas patas na kompetisyon, at mas matibay na anti-corruption safeguards—na magbubunga ng mas mabilis, mas malinaw, at mas ligtas na procurement system.

 

Kasabay ng NGPA ang full modernization ng PhilGEPS, kasama na ang upgraded Open Data Portal kung saan bukas at accessible sa publiko ang procurement information mula planning hanggang implementation. Dahil dito, mas nagkakaroon ng kapangyarihan ang mga mamamayan, media, researchers, at watchdogs na bantayan ang paggastos ng gobyerno sa real time.

 

Sa isang video message, binigyang-pugay ni dating DBM Secretary Pangandaman ang mahalagang papel ng PhilGEPS sa serbisyo publiko. “Without PhilGEPS, the fulfillment of PS-DBM’s mandate as the central procurement arm for common-use supplies and equipment would not be possible… It is because of PhilGEPS… that we enjoy tools like the Virtual Store, eMarketplace, eBidding Facility, ePayment, merchant registry, and the open data portal,” aniya.

 

Idinagdag ni OIC-Secretary Toledo na lalo pang pinatibay ang mga repormang ito sa pamamagitan ng mas mahusay na interoperability tools, pinalawak na e-bidding capabilities, mas matatag na protest at review mechanisms, at pinalakas na capacity-building para sa iba’t ibang ahensya—lahat ito para makabuo ng procurement system na mabilis, matalino, at mas protektado laban sa abuso at anomalya.

 

Pinuri rin ni Toledo ang pagkilala sa Pilipinas sa Open Government Partnership (OGP) 2025 Global Summit sa Spain, kung saan nanalo ang bansa sa Anti-Corruption Category at Asia-Pacific Regional Award. Patunay umano ito na kinikilala sa buong mundo ang kredibilidad ng reporma ng Pilipinas.

 

“If the next 25 years of governance are to be defined by transparency, trust, and integrity, it will be because you chose to stay, you chose to serve, and you chose to stand as one,” pahayag niya sa mga kawani ng PS-DBM at PhilGEPS.

 

Nagpasalamat naman si PS-DBM Executive Director Genmaries Entredicho-Caong kay dating Secretary Pangandaman sa kanyang matatag na suporta, at pinuri ang continuity at leadership ni OIC-Secretary Toledo.

 

“We are certain that under the leadership of our DBM OIC-Secretary Rolly, the transformative reforms we initiated will not only continue but strengthen… Public procurement is in good hands,” aniya. “Secretary Rolly, you have our full support. We don’t simply wish you success—we will work with you to achieve it.”