With the coming of the information age, new technologies started to thrive. The passage of the Electronic Commerce Act of 2000 provided the impetus for e-government under a global concept.

In response to the challenge of e-government, the Government Electronic Procurement System or the G-EPS, was launched on November 22, 2000 through E.O. No. 322, and the Implementing Rules and Regulations of E..O No. 262 issued on October 10, 2000.

The G-EPS is an integral part of the comprehensive government procurement reform program designed to improve transparency, efficiency and value for money. The pilot system now in place is an information site consisting primarily of a Public Tender Board, Electronic Catalogue, and a
Supplier Registry.

The G-EPS serves as the official system to advertise and distribute specifications for public bidding opportunities and also contains information related to doing business with the government such as rules and regulations, press releases, a directory of government agencies and contacts, planned and historical agency procurement, bid matching for suppliers, potential competitors, winning bidders, and a frequently asked questions section. The next step is to make other aspects of the procurement process available to all stakeholders like the Virtual Store which supports online procurement of both common and non-common use items; the Electronic Payment; Charges and Fees or the User Fees which is charged for system usage and downloading of bid documents; and, the Electronic Bid Submission.

Now called the PhilGEPS, it is considered to be the bridge and source of information on the procurement of common goods, civil works and general support services, is now being upgraded to conform with the many and varying requirements of time and clients.

 

By: Nobel L. De Leon | Teacher I | Hermosa National High School | Hermosa, Bataan