By Lilybeth Ison/Philippine News Agency
MANILA — Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel “Manny” Piñol on Monday announced that he will issue an administrative order changing the procurement process that must include the preference of farmers and fisherfolks.
“As we start the celebration of the Farmers and Fisherfolks Month, let me make a major policy announcement in relation to our procurement programs,” said Piñol in his speech during the event.
The DA chief has tasked Agriculture Undersecretary Roldan Gorgonio to prepare the AO that will direct all Bids and Awards Committees (BAC) of the Department in the country “to include in the terms of reference (TOR) the end users’ preference.”
“Ibig sabihin, kailangan alam natin jung ano ang gusto ng magsasaka o mangingisda na equipment at produkto para sa kanya. Hindi dapat na tayo ang magdedesisyon (This means, we must find out what product the farmer or fisherman prefers. We should not decide for them”), he said.
This way, he said there will be no waste of funds in the purchase of equipment and seeds.
Piñol said the end user’s preference should be included as one of the criteria in the TOR.
He also wants that a representative from the farmers sector or fisherfolks sector to join the BAC meeting as an “observer”.
“I will issue another administrative order directing that in the BAC (meeting), every procurement that we have, there should be an observer who will come from the intended beneficiary of the project,” he noted.
Piñol said he made changes because this is what President Rodrigo Roa Duterte wants and to provide transparency so as to eliminate corrupt practices in government purchases.
“This practice has to end now because the President would like to change the system (of procurement). This is now a major policy,” he added.
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