TO usher in the “golden age of infrastructure,” the Duterte administration said it will shorten the procurement process by amending the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the country’s procurement law.
National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Director General Ernesto M. Pernia said this is the reason the amendment of the IRR of Republic Act (RA) 9184, or the Government Procurement Act, has been identified as one of the priorities of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac).
Pernia said the country’s “long” procurement process is slowing down the implementation of the government’s infrastructure projects.
“We also talked about reforming procurement law, so that we can speed up construction of projects,” he said in a forum on Tuesday.
The Neda chief said the IRR will be modified and revised to shorten the time needed to implement projects. He said this will be done by removing unnecessary provisions in the IRR, which he did not detail.
This is also in keeping with one of the President’s primary directives to cut red tape and streamline government processes when he assumed office.
“[The revision will focus on] changes that would speed up the procurement process. [We will cut the] time. There area some provisions that are unnecessary. The idea is to reform and speed up,” Pernia told reporters.
Apart from streamlining the procurement process, Pernia said the government will revise the composition of the Ledac. Pernia said the Ledac will soon be called the Lejac to reflect the addition of the Judiciary in the council.
“We want to invite the Judiciary to this council so that it will be a conversation among the three branches of government and we have made overtures already to Chief Justice [ Maria Lourdes] Sereno,” Pernia said.
The Ledac is currently composed of the President, the Vice President, seven Cabinet Secretaries—Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III; Transportation Secretary
Arthur P. Tugade; Public works Secretary Mark A. Villar; Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana; Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza and Pernia. The council also includes Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez; House Majority Floor Leader Danilo E. Suarez; Senate President Pro Tempore Franklin M. Drilon; and Senate Majority Floor Leader Vicente C. Sotto III, among other legislators.
Once the judiciary becomes a member, the Lejac will have an executive committee that will meet every month while the Lejac will meet once every quarter.
“That is now serious we are about trying to coordinate the different branches of government for a more effective governance,” Pernia said.
Meanwhile, as a member of the Ledac, Vice President Maria G. Leonor Robredo said she has also put forth her proposed priority bills.
These are the National Food Security bill; Freedom of Information bill; People Empowerment bill; and the Land Use bill.
She also proposed to include the On-site, In-city or Near-city Bill; Department of Housing Bill; UDHA Amendments on Eviction; and Anti-Discrimination Bill.
“Our Office will submit in writing more detailed comments, including pushing for some measures which she considers to be most important for national development,” Robredo said in a statement.
The Neda serves as the Secretariat of the Ledac, which was created through RA 7640 approved by then-President Fidel V. Ramos on December 9, 1992.
The Council shall serve as a consultative and advisory body to the President as the head of the national economic and planning agency for further consultations and advice on certain programs and policies essential to the realization of the goals of the national economy.
It also serves as a venue to facilitate high-level policy discussions on vital issues and concerns affecting national development.
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Image credits: Bloomberg Photo