BUZZ BEAT MEDIA

Under the leadership of Education Secretary Sonny Angara, the Department of Education (DepEd) is advancing procurement reforms, leveling supplier competition, and ensuring the integrity of the bidding process. These efforts align with President Bongbong Marcos Jr.’s commitment to government transparency.

Sec. Angara highlighted these reforms at the first-ever Suppliers’ Summit, held from March 19-20 at Century Park Hotel, Manila, where around 250 suppliers and service providers convened to discuss improvements in procurement, regulatory compliance, and dispute resolution.

“Sa ating mga suppliers at bidders—hindi lang kayo negosyo. Kayo ay kaagapay po natin sa reporma. Wala nang dahilan para maantala. Green light na—para sa mas maayos na procurement, para sa dekalidad na edukasyon,” Sec. Angara said.

To expedite the delivery of learning resources to schools nationwide, DepEd has launched the Suppliers’ Registry, a key initiative aimed at directly connecting suppliers and service providers to market opportunities within DepEd.

The registry [https://suppliers.deped.gov.ph/] allows businesses to register their products and services, receive bid alerts, and communicate directly with DepEd. By streamlining market participation, it seeks to eliminate inefficiencies and reduce bureaucratic delays in procurement transactions.

As former Senator and principal author of the New Government Procurement Act (NGPA), Sec. Angara underscored the importance of procurement reforms in preventing delays, enhancing market responsiveness, and ensuring the timely delivery of educational materials.

Meanwhile, Undersecretary for Procurement and Finance Oversight Rowena Ruiz reported that, with the help of Early Procurement Activities (EPA), DepEd has already awarded P1.9 billion worth of DepEd Computerization Program (DCP) projects, including 64,000 laptops and smart TV packages, along with P864 million worth of learning resources, consisting of 87 million modules and 74,000 tablets as of March 2025.

“Under the leadership of Secretary Sonny Angara, DepEd has taken bold steps to streamline the procurement process, eliminate inefficiencies, and uphold integrity. Simple lang ang mantra namin. Tatlo lang iyon. Three words: maayos, mabilis, malinis,” Undersecretary and Head of Procuring Entity Peter Irving Corvera affirmed.

During a panel discussion, Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Fatima Lipp D. Panontongan emphasized the critical role of suppliers in equipping educators with necessary tools for effective teaching. “This is the perfect example of the collaboration and partnership with our suppliers. You help us equip our schools, empower our teachers, and inspire learners,” she said.

The summit also included a Market Opportunities Exhibit, where suppliers showcased their innovative products and services alongside DepEd’s 2025 project plans. Additionally, a series of plenary and breakout sessions covered key topics such as the NGPA, Tatak Pinoy Act, and major DepEd procurement initiatives for 2025.

The event featured discussions with prominent experts, including Atty. Catherine Jennifer Francis Gonzales from the World Bank, Ms. Soma Misra from the Asian Development Bank, Atty. Herminio Bagro from the US-ASEAN Business Council, and Ms. Carmen Zubiaga from Women with Disabilities Leap to Social and Economic Progress, Inc. (WOWLEAP).

*All Photos from DepEd