THE proposed New Government Procurement Reform Law may be ready for signing by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. in May, according to Senior Deputy Speaker and Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr.

Gonzales told a new conference at the House of Representatives on Wednesday that he met with Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Tuesday to discuss the proposed new procurement law, of which Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez and the Pampanga lawmaker are the principal authors.

Speaker Romualdez said he expects the Senate to pass House Bill (HB) No. 9648 or its own version of the new procurement law shortly upon the resumption of session of Congress later next month.

“Pinag-usapan po namin ni Senate President Migz na maipapasa by May. At siguro po, before SONA (President’s State of the Nation Address in July), okay na po ‘yung ating (bagong) Procurement Law,” he said.

He said the enactment process for the proposed new law could be shortened if the Senate would just adopt HB No. 9648, which seeks to repeal and replace Republic Act (RA) No. 9184, the present procurement statute.

The House passed HB No. 9648 in December last year. The Senate opened second-reading deliberations on its version last Monday.

“So, ang gusto ko po sana, kung pupwede kaming dalawa ni (Budget) Secretary Mena (Pangandaman) at ni Speaker (Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez), gusto namin talaga mapabilis itong Procurement Act. Kasi po ito hinahantay na. Judiciary, inaantay na po ito, Executive, inaantay na po to. So, talaga po ito ay napaka-importanteng priority measure ng ating Pangulo,” he said.

He said in the case of the judiciary, the Supreme Court has “pipeline projects all over the country.”

“Kulang po sila sa courtrooms, pero hindi po nila ma-bid kaagad because kailangan ma-amiendahan po natin yung ating Republic Act 9184,” he added.

Gonzales explained that among other features, his bill seeks to reduce the procurement process from 120 days to just 27 days, “starting from the advertisement up to the notice of award, notice to proceed, and signing of contract and (with) one publication only.”

He said the bill would also strengthen the planning departments of agencies.

“Kasi, everything emanates from the planning department. So, sa DOTr (Department of Transportation), DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways), kung wala kang tinatawag na DAED (detailed architectural and engineering design), hindi ka puwedeng mag-bid…hindi mo puwedeng i-award ‘yung project kung wala kang documents,” he said.

He said the planning office of a big infrastructure agency like the DPWH would require some 15,000 personnel, including materials, civil and mechanical engineers, and architects.

“So, nag-usap po kami ni (Budget) Secretary Mena na kailangan kumuha pa tayo ng maraming technical expertise para matulungan at ma-augment natin dito sa Procurement Act…Willing naman siya na huwag nating biglain, kung pwede 1⁄4 muna and then 1⁄2 para at least hindi mabigla. Kasi kasama diyan yung Civil Service Commission. Kasi pag kumuha ka ng tao, kailangan (may) plantilla iyan, kailangan may civil service (eligibility) yan,” he added.

The third salient feature of the proposed new procurement law is the removal of the requirement for the post-qualification of bidders.

“Para po sana mapabilis na lahat. Kasi hindi ka naman puwedeng ma-qualify sa isang subasta (bidding) kung hindi ka pre-qualified at lehitimong negosyante or contractor,” Gonzales said.