Region-7 barangays undergo procurement reform training

About 98 percent of the 3,003 barangays in Central Visayas have been trained for the last six months on the government's procurement reforms and innovations towards a graft-free bureaucracy, according to Department of the Interior and Local Government regional director Roberto Abejero.

Abejero said the training program was in line with Republic Act 9184, otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act of 2003, which, he added, will be fully implemented in all barangays in the region by the end of 2006.

The three-day training was conducted by the composite team of regional trainers from the DILG, Department of Budget and Management, and the Commission on Audit.

Abejero said participants to the trainings were members of the Barangay Bids and Awards Committees such as the punong barangay, barangay kagawads and barangay secretary.

Topics in the training include main provisions of the law, the Government Electronic Procurement System, Procurement Planning and Budgeting, Linkage and the Provisions on Procurement of Goods and Services, Infrastructure Projects and Consulting Services. Workshops were also conducted on Standard Billing Documents.

RA 9184 provides for the adoption of consistent procurement rules of all government agencies, including the local governments. It is in consonance with the Arroyo administration' commitment to promote good governance and its effort to adhere to the principle of transparency, equity, accountability, efficiency and economy in its procurement process.

"We believe that by empowering our barangay officials with basic knowledge on the proper procurement procedures, they will be more conscious of their responsibilities in handling the finances of their barangays and do away with red tape that leads to corruption," Abejero said.

Abejero said the law would bring about the benefits of shorter bidding time, financial savings, lesser opportunities for corruption and a better public expenditure program. - Garry B. Lao