The new government procurement law will ensure sustainable practices, push economic inclusion and protect the environment.
The rules and regulations of the New Government Procurement Act (NGPA) seek to make a pivotal shift in how the government uses procurement as a lever for social and environmental progress.
Lawyer Zoilo L. Andin Jr., a Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) certified specialist, stressed the transformative potential of the NGPA in advancing sustainability and inclusion through strategic public spending.
The National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) Philippines recently gathered a diverse set of stakeholders to explore how the NGPA (Republic Act No. 12009) can leverage partnerships for sustainability, inclusion and the acceleration of circular economy.
The NGPA replaces RA 9184, or the Government Procurement Reform Act, and introduces forward-looking principles which include fit-for-purpose, sustainability and professionalization principles to guide government agencies in procuring not only efficiently, but also responsibly and strategically
Andin Jr. in a webinar said the rules and regulations of RA 12009, which took effect on February 25, 2025, will spell out the most appropriate procurement modality that meets specific conditions.
He said the rules would guide everybody to use procurement to support the environment and uplift the lives of those at the margins of society.
Within its vision of reforming procurement processes, the NGPA introduces ambitious efforts for Sustainable Public Procurement and Inclusive Public Procurement (IPP) to ensure that government spending drives positive outcomes for the environment, local economies and marginalized communities.
It recommends that government agencies prioritize goods, services and infrastructure with minimal economic, social and environmental risks throughout the lifecycle.
Andin said sustainability under the law extends beyond green products and includes equitable access for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), cooperatives, marginalized groups and the informal sector.
“The NGPA has reversed the tables. If before the marginalized sector had been waiting for manna from heaven to fall, now it is the law telling government to trigger the demand. Pulling them in, engaging them, and organizing inclusive supplier days,” he said. UNDP Philippines News
Andin also drew connections between the NGPA and the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act of 2022 (RA 11898), highlighting how the two policies hinge on collaboration of various stakeholders
“The NGPA, GPP and IPP contribute to circular economy and SCP and the attainment of EPR targets. Partnerships are essential. If obliged enterprises start rolling out refilling systems, they can enter into agreements with local government units (LGUs) to help promote these systems,” Andin said.
Knut Ostby, Resident Representative ad interim of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in the Philippines, said the NGPA “presents an optimistic avenue for partnerships and collaboration wherein every public investment has the potential to advance sustainability, inclusion and innovation.”
The NPAP Philippines is a locally driven platform uniting leaders from government, business, development organizations, academe and civil society to tackle plastic pollution and transition to a circular economy.
