By Karen Krizia Constante
THE Philippine government has signed a consignment agreement with computer giant Microsoft Corp. that executives expect would simplify the system of acquiring technology goods for the public sector.
According to Tomas Syquia, executive director of the Department of Budget and Management-Procurement Service (DBM-PS), the agreement will help them lessen issues arising from procurement.
“You always hear about procurement being probably slow. One of our mandates is [to] assist government agencies in being able to avail immediately of goods that cut across the needs of our government,” he said in a news briefing on June 17.
Syquia said that with the new system, government agencies and local government units (LGUs) could now easily buy software and hardware materials at low prices and at lesser time frame. “If government agencies need the license, all they have to do is look into the PS web site. We have a catalog of licenses [on it] and if they see the license that they need, then they just order. Within seven days or even shorter possibly, they’re given a code, and they can immediately download the license and begin using the license.”
According to Syquia, if the government agencies were to do that in a traditional system, the actual bidding usually takes 60 days on average. “If it fails, you double that, or 120 days.”
Syquia claims the new system with Microsoft promotes transparency as the public can view the prices of the products and services on the PS web site.
The other benefit is getting the right license, according to Ferdie Saputil, public sector director of Microsoft Philippines Inc. By dealing directly with Microsoft Partners, the procurement system guarantees government agencies and LGUs that they are getting the genuine licenses, Saputil said. He added there would be some cases where government agencies will call to ask if they can validate the licenses of the laptops and desktops that were delivered. Karen Krizia Constante
“With that experience, sometimes what was installed was not the right license and we just have to advise that agency,” Saputil said.
Syquia said the DBM is also negotiating with Microsoft to provide the government with devices.
“We’ve been negotiating with Microsoft, through their partners, if we can also have Windows devices, tablets, laptops 2-in1s, phones, and make these available to government agencies.”