Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 16) — The Procurement Service-Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) has suspended the purchase of non-common use supplies and equipment (non-CSE) after audit reports questioned transactions it entered into for several government agencies.
“Tatapusin na lamang po ‘yung procurement ng mga non-CSE na ongoing o nasa pipeline na hanggang sa sila’y makumpleto. Pero hanggang doon na lang po iyon. Pagkatapos noon, wala na. Lahat ng procurement, CSE na lang,” PS-DBM Executive Director Dennis Santiago said.
[Translation: We will just complete the ongoing non-CSE requests or those already in the pipeline, then that’s it. After that, we will only process CSE procurement.]
PS-DBM is in the spotlight after the Commission on Audit flagged that the agency purchased allegedly overpriced laptops for the Department of Education (DepEd) and approved contracts for personal protective equipment (PPE) which lacked necessary certification.
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Lawmakers have called for the abolition of PS-DBM, saying the procurement arm is turning into a breeding ground for corruption and malfeasance. They said government agencies should strengthen their own bids and awards committees instead of relying on DBM’s services.
Rep. France Castro of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers’ party-list said agencies should be prohibited from sourcing materials and other supplies through the PS-DBM.
PS-DBM has previously been the subject of a congressional probe due to supposedly anomalous contracts connected to the COVID-19 pandemic.
New PS-DBM Executive Director Dennis Santiago on Tuesday said his office will only buy commonly used supplies and equipment for day-to-day operations such as ballpens, papers, stapler, paper clips, and the like — sticking to the agency’s primary mandate.
