Deputy Majority Leader and Tingog Partylist Rep. Jude Acidre expressed disappointment over the failure of the Senate to pass the proposed new Government Procurement Reform Act (GPRA) on second reading, despite being certified as urgent by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
Acidre said it was unfortunate that a bill as crucial as GPRA had escaped the attention of senators.
“It’s quite disappointing lang actually. To be honest, especially when you’re one of the co-authors na despite the President’s call to certify, the President’s action to certify the said legislation as urgent, parang nagsi-alisan yata sila para sa IPU or nagpaplano munang pumunta sa IPU, sa biyahe (They leave for IPU),” Acidre said, referring to the Geneva-based Inter-Parliamentary Union.
“That’s really something that I hope the Senate will make good, especially considering that this is a piece of legislation that’s important to the overall economic and fiscal reforms that the present administration is pursuing,” he added.
To recall, the House approved on third and final reading the procurement reform bill on December 12, 2023.
House Bill (HB) 9648 aims to improve and modernize the government procurement system in the country by amending the decades-old Republic Act 9184 or the original GPRA.
Acidre, a co-author of measure and a member of the House technical working group for the bill, highlighted the significant efforts they have invested in modernizing the country’s procurement code.
He emphasized the urgency of the legislation, which not only aimed to update the Procurement Code but also included provisions for a new Auditing Code.
Recognizing the urgent necessity to expedite the passage of the measure in the upper chamber, President Marcos certified Senate Bill (SB) No. 2593 as urgent.
In a letter directed to Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, President Marcos underscored the crucial importance of facilitating the passage of this significant piece of legislation.
The Chief Executive emphasized the need to address the cumbersome and protracted procedures in public procurement and to enhance procurement efficacy.
“I hope our senators will see the importance of that. Clearly the President, by certifying it as urgent, understands the importance of that bill,” Acidre said.
However, despite the urgency attached to the bill, the Senate failed to approve it on second reading before going on a Lenten break on Wednesday.
“Unfortunately, the importance or the urgency of that measure has escaped the attention of our friends in the Senate,” Acidre lamented.