The Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 12009, or the New Government Procurement Act (NGPA), have officially been approved, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) announced Wednesday.

The IRR, which will guide the implementation of the landmark procurement law, was finalized and approved during a meeting led by the Government Procurement Policy Board – Technical Support Office (GPPB-TSO) on Tuesday, according to the DBM.

Budget Secretary and GPPB chair Amenah Pangandaman expressed gratitude to the Board members for their role in the IRR drafting process.

“With your strong drive toward building and enacting effective procurement reforms, you have all made this possible…Together, we are shaping a system that meets the highest standards of public service and accountability,” Pangandaman said, as quoted in a DBM release.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed into law RA 12009 on July 20, 2024 and took effect on Aug. 13, 2024, enhancing the existing procurement systems under the 21-year-old RA 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act) by standardizing procurement forms and institutionalizing electronic procurement.

Section 112 of the NGPA mandates the GPPB to finalize and approve the IRR of the new law within 180 days from the promulgation of the Act.

The new law introduces new modalities to achieve value for money, procurement efficiency, and quality public services. It aims to modernize procurement processes with the use of emerging technologies and innovative solutions, as well as integrated systems among relevant government agencies.

The GPPB-TSO meeting was attended by key officials, including DBM Undersecretary for Legal and Legislative Group Janet Abuel, Procurement Service-DBM Executive Director Genmaries Entredicho-Caong, and representatives from the Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of National Defense, and Department of Education. (PNA)