New Procurement Law mandates video recording of government biddings

THE Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) reminded all government agencies and the public that the video recording of all procurement-related conferences for government projects and services is now a requirement under the New Government Procurement Act (NGPA) or Republic Act 12009.

In a statement posted in its website, the GPPB said the recording of the competitive bidding process is consistent with Article II, Section 28 of the 1987 Constitution, which declares that, subject to reasonable conditions prescribed by law, the State adopts and implements a policy of full public disclosure of all its transactions involving public interest.

Section 38 of RA 12009 authorizes a Procuring Entity (government agency) to keep a video recording of all procurement-related conferences for competitive bidding, which includes pre-procurement conferences, pre-bid conferences, bid openings, and other meetings of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC).

All procurement-related conferences for competitive bidding shall not commence without a video recording initiated by the BAC, the GPPB added.

The Procuring Entity shall also livestream the preliminary examination and the opening of the bids to the public on its website, social media account, or any other form of livestreaming service.

The mandatory video recording is required for procurement projects above ₱10 million for goods, ₱20 million for infrastructure projects, and ₱5 million for consulting services.

All recordings are required to be stored for a minimum of five (5) years and made available to the public upon request.

Dr. Carlo Magno Batalla, chairman of the Crimes and Corruption Watch International (CCWI), welcomed the GPPB public reminder as “timely, necessary, and highly relevant as it would help deter the unscrupulous from rigging the bidding process to the detriment of the public as we have seen in so many instances.”

Members of the CCWI have been accredited by the GPPB to act as observers in major government project biddings after completing the specialized courses for procurement observers.