DBM Approves New Procurement Rules,
Opens Budget Process to Private Sector

05 February 2024 – Makati Business Club hosted a breakfast,, “Advancing Open Government: Through Stronger Public-Private Partnerships,” during the PH-OGP Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting. This event, MBC’s first general membership meeting of 2025, provided an opportunity for private sector leaders to engage with DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman on national budget priorities, procurement reforms, and open governance efforts.

In her remarks, Secretary Pangandaman emphasized that private sector participation is now faster and more accessible under the new Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Code. “To fund these critical infrastructure projects, we are leveraging innovative financing mechanisms, including strategic co-investments with the private sector through Public-Private Partnerships or PPPs,” she stated. 

She also highlighted key fiscal reforms, including the approval of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the New Government Procurement Act, which introduces:
✔ Open contracting – ensuring transparency from planning to implementation;
✔ Electronic marketplace – streamlining procurement transactions;
✔ Beneficial ownership disclosure – requiring bidders to declare true owners to prevent conflicts of interest; and
✔ Inclusive and participatory procurement – expanding private sector engagement.

The meeting was led by MBC Executive Director Apa Ongpin, who reaffirmed MBC’s commitment to transparency and economic growth, stating, “At MBC, we believe that access to information and making it easier to do business in the Philippines are crucial for creating jobs and improving our economy. That’s why we have been working hard to push for initiatives like the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill and supporting the existing FOI Executive Order.”

Echoing this statement in his closing remarks, MBC Board Member Peter Maquera highlighted that “today’s discussion underscored the importance of transparency, accountability, and efficient public resource management in strengthening business confidence and national development. MBC remains committed to working closely with the DBM to promote policies that enhance competitiveness, streamline regulations, and champion good governance.”

Other MBC members also called for greater private sector involvement in budget planning, to which Secretary Pangandaman expressed her support. Events like this provide a platform for businesses to gain exclusive insights into government budget priorities and procurement reforms while advocating for policies that enhance the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) in the country.

MBC has long been at the forefront of business-government collaboration. In 2022, it launched high-level dialogues with economic managers, followed by the F2F with Cabinet Secretaries Series in 2023, and the Business-Government Partnership Forum and Digital Democracy Awards in 2024. More initiatives are in the pipeline for 2025, further strengthening MBC’s role in fostering partnerships that drive economic growth and good governance.