Executive Director Atty. Dennis Santiago, officials, and colleagues, good evening.

I am pleased to be with you today as you celebrate your 44th Anniversary—ka-batch ko pa pala ang PS-DBM—44 Years of Procurement and Service: One PS-DBM.

I’m happy to see everyone in high spirits for your cheering competition later–especially since we’ve been unable to do this since the pandemic struck.

So I’ll keep this speech short and sweet.

As you may know, I’ve always expressed my full support for the PS-DBM. I still believe in the potential of PS-DBM to deliver on its objective to save the government billions of pesos through bulk procurement and market price monitoring and validation, ensuring that the Filipino people get the most of every peso entrusted to the government. And I know you are the same people that did this and generated Php 18 billion in savings in 2018 under Secretary Diokno’s leadership.

In this light, I am determined to bring back the good name of PS-DBM and I know that with ED Dennis Santiago and all of you here, we can achieve this. Aligned with the Administration’s vision of bureaucratic efficiency, we will explore the digitalization of our procurement processes.

In fact, ED Santiago and I met with World Bank Country Director Mr. Ndiame Diop last week to discuss technical assistance in this aspect. I am certain we will have systems in place soon for PS-DBM that not only we, but the whole country, can be proud of.

May this 44th year be a good one. All eyes are on PS-DBM now so I hope that we can all be inspired to work hard, work with integrity, and work with the purpose of bringing back the good name and good office that PS-DBM was envisioned to be.

As one PS-DBM, let’s foster hard work, integrity, and service to the people.

Magandang gabi, maraming salamat, mabuhay! Assalamu Alaikum!