The National Conciliation and Mediation Board-Central Office, in coordination with the Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB), held a five-day online training on Republic Act (RA) No. 9184, otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act and its 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) via zoom video conference on July 8-9 and 14-16, 2021.

The online training aimed to enhance the knowledge and skills of NCMB personnel involved in various procurement activities both in the Central Office and in the 16 regional branches. Specifically, it was designed to familiarize the new members of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) on the provisions of the law as well as the latest updates and issuances from the GPPB.

Participants of the webinar are the designated Heads of Procuring Entity and BAC members and its Secretariat, Technical Working Group and End-User representatives from the Central Office and its Regional Branches. 

NCMB Administrative Division Chief Rose-Maria C. Mamaoag led the preliminaries and was then followed by the Welcome Remarks by Executive Director Maria Teresita D. Lacsamana-Cancio.

The Board coordinated with the GPPB through its Technical Services Office, for the conduct of the online training/seminar. The resource persons tapped to handle each topic were chosen by the GPPB from among its accredited and competent pool of resource persons.

Engr. Antonio M. Bautista discussed Procurement 101 which covers the key features of the Government Procurement Reform Act (GPRA) and procurement organizations.

Bautista also talked about efficient procurement measures, simplified posting and electronic submission of procurement reports during a state of calamity or implementation of community quarantine or similar restrictions.

 “The GPPB Resolution No. 09-2020, issued on May 15, 2020, provides guidance and procedures for the efficient conduct of all procurement activities regardless of procurement modality”, Engr. Bautista said.

Dr. Cheryl G. Ramos presented the procurement planning and budget linkages including the related laws and rules on Early Procurement Activities. She also discussed the preparation of the Project Procurement Management Plan (PPMP) and Annual Procurement Plan (APP), and the basic principles in the conduct of market study.

Dr. Ramos emphasized that through procurement planning, the procuring entity can effectively manage and track procurement all the way to contract implementation. This process allows managers to budget and appropriate resources under a specific timeline. 

Engr. Gilbert C. Mondroy discussed standard bidding procedures for goods and services on the third day of the training.

“All procurement shall be done through competitive bidding except as provided for in Article XVI of this Act,” Mondroy said. 

“Competitive Public Bidding, which is the very foundation of RA 9184, aims to protect public interest by giving the public the best possible advantages through open competition. It also aims to avoid or preclude suspicion of favoritism and anomalies in the execution of public contracts and consequently obtain the best possible deal for the government by fostering transparency and preventing favoritism, collusion and fraud in the award of contracts.” he added.

On the fourth day, Engr. Bautista discussed the rules governing the conditions, requirements, and use of other modes of procurement other than competitive public bidding as provided for under RA 9184 and its Revised IRR. 

The virtual training was wrapped up with a workshop on the last day of the training which was facilitated by Technical Services Director and NCMB-CO BAC Chairperson Atty. Ronda T. Doctor-Malimban.

End/ Jessabel Lucinario edited by Gillian Pearl L. Guerrero