Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman expressed her confidence that the government can transform its procurement policies and processes through the use of technology.

The Budget Secretary made the statement before the members of the Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) and Inter-Agency Technical Working Group (IATWG) in the conduct of their Year-End Meeting today, 19 December 2022.

“We still have a lot of work to do to regain the trust of the public and meet international standards of procurement. But I truly believe that with sincerity in service, a focused determination to improve, and with the proper use of technology and digitalization for efficiency and transparency, we can transform procurement policies and processes to be a mechanism that will thrust forward and truly help us achieve our Agenda for Prosperity,” Secretary Pangandaman said.

The Budget Secretary also commended the GPPB-Technical Support Office (TSO), under the leadership of Executive Director Atty. Rowena Ruiz, for promoting the Philippine government’s public procurement reform agenda.

GPPB-Technical Support Office Executive Director Ruiz highlighted that “these government procurement reform initiatives are imperative to promote streamlined, innovative, and agile and responsive procurement for all procuring entities and stakeholders.” She also thanked the Development Partners for their continued technical assistance to these GPPB initiatives.
Currently, the GPPB spearheads the implementation of the Green Public Procurement (GPP) Roadmap which aims to integrate green choices in public procurement and to ensure sustainable management and use of natural resources by 2030.

The GPP is a process whereby public authorities seek to procure goods, services, and works with a reduced environmental impact throughout their life cycle. The strategy of the GPP is to integrate green practices harmoniously into the existing procurement processes.
“Coupled with our initiatives to digitalize government processes, records, and databases, this would hopefully help us realize our shared aspiration to take the Philippine procurement regime to the next level,” Secretary Pangandaman expressed.

The GPPB-TSO also has lined-up its FY2023 Action Plan that supports the primary mandates of the GPPB on policy-making, capacity development, and procurement monitoring. (PR)

With every purchase of a SMAC card and every checkout, shoppers can now help support a family in need.

Leading digital solutions platform Globe and SM Advantage Card (SMAC), the loyalty card of retail giant SM, have come together to help put meals on the table of those in need through the Hapag Movement, Globe’s technology-driven program against involuntary hunger.

“We are excited to partner with SMAC at the most joyful time of the year so we can bring cheer to our fellow Filipinos who continue to suffer due to involuntary hunger. Now, it’s easier for shoppers to share their blessings to the needy, bring food to the table, and get assistance for decent livelihood as we mark this Christmas season post-pandemic,” said Globe Group Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer Yoly Crisanto.

“Our collaboration with Globe for the Hapag Movement is a pioneering partnership for us as it aligns with the SM brand’s goal of providing support to Filipinos every way we can. This is the time for us to rally behind this cause to help those who continue to reel from the impact of the pandemic and challenges due to rising living costs. Ibalik natin ang sarap ng Pasko,” said Jay Beltran, SMAC SAVP Head of Sales and Marketing.

Through the partnership, P50.00 will be donated to the Hapag Movement and other SM Foundation programs for every purchase of a new SMAC card.

On top of this, SMAC members who will shop select items at the SM Store, SM Beauty, SM Appliance, Kultura, Surplus, Our Home, Baby Company, Crate and Barrel, Levi’s, The Body Shop, Forever21, Ecco, and Miniso will earn up to 1,000 EXTRA SMAC Points, and half of the EXTRA points they earn will be donated to the movement starting December 15, 2022 until January 15, 2023, in time for this season of giving.

“We celebrate the season of giving with our SMAC members with the gift of giving— letting them share blessings with our most vulnerable kababayans,” Beltran said.
Globe’s Hapag Movement leverages on technology and collaboration to help 100,000 families experiencing involuntary hunger through supplemental feeding and livelihood support.

Globe initiated the program to help Filipinos severely affected by the pandemic, with its effects still felt until today. An estimated 2.9 million individuals reported suffering from involuntary hunger as of October this year, largely unchanged from the quarter before, according to a Social Weather Stations Survey.

To learn more about the Hapag Movement, visit its official page. You may also visit smac.ph or download the SMAC app to know more. (PR)

ORMOC CITY– Aside from making this city drug-free, its officials also aim to make it as the entertainment capital of the region.

And this aim is not far-fetched to happen considering that its former mayor and now congressman, Richard Gomez, is a multi-awarded actor and one of the show business most respected denizens and current mayor, Lucy Torres Gomez also made a short showbiz career.

When the city marked its 75th as a charter city, big-name celebrities performed in the city like Regine Velasquez and husband, Ogie Alcasid, Zsa Zsa Padilla and Rey Valera.
And on December 11, concert king Martin Nievera also performed in the city.

“Ormoc is now gaining ground as the entertainment capital in the region as the city managed to stage concerts and events,” Gomez said.

“(And)after the success of Martin Nievera’s concert on December 11, we are planning to invite more artists for future entertainment events here,” the solon, representing Leyte’s fourth district, added.

Gomez said he hopes to bring the Eraserheads band and television host Vice Ganda next year to entertain the residents and visitors.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)