Vol. XXII, No. 107 [ BusinessWorld Online ]
Tuesday, December 23, 2008 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES
TACLOBAN — After opening two Procurement Service sub-depots in Eastern Visayas region this year, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) plans to put up similar shops in all six provinces in the region next year.
DBM regional director Imelda Laceras said her office has started talking with local government officials for the establishment of new procurement depots in the provinces of Samar, Northern Samar and Southern Leyte.
The government operates a regional depot at the DBM regional office in Tacloban as well as sub-depots in Borongan City in Eastern Samar and Naval, Biliran.
"The priority next year is the continuation of the expansion of sub-depots. If we cannot open in provincial capitals, it will be in the cities," Ms. Laceras said in an interview.
The sub-depots in Biliran and Eastern Samar are being run by the provincial governments. Ms. Laceras said these two provinces were prioritized because of their commitment to provide space to house the state-run store. The Leyte provincial government will no longer open a sub-depot in Tacloban, the provincial capital, because of the proximity of the regional procurement depot in Palo town.
Ms. Laceras said the expansion of the sub-depot network supports the bid to increase compliance with the government procurement reform law among local government units.
Under the standard arrangement, the local government provides space for the depot while the Procurement Service office in Manila delivers supplies and the DBM regional office supervises the operation.
"We want to bring the services of the depot closer to the clientele. If sub-depots are in place in provinces, there’s no more reason for LGUs not to comply the law," Ms. Laceras said.
Procurement Service executive director Estanislao Granados earlier asked DBM regional chiefs nationwide to work for the opening of sub-depots in 82 provinces nationwide before the end of 2010. Government offices are estimated to save 20%-40% of office equipment purchases if they buy their supplies from the depot. — S. Q. Meniano
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