Many government systems are outdated and prone to abuse, President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday said as he led the launch of a procurement system which will allow government staff to make "cashless" purchases. "[We have] systems and processes that, while they may have served their purpose at one time, are badly
Many government systems are outdated and prone to abuse, President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday said as he led the launch of a procurement system which will allow government staff to make "cashless" purchases.
"[We have] systems and processes that, while they may have served their purpose at one time, are badly outdated. Even worse, they are susceptible to abuse, which could lead to inefficiency, wastage, and opportunities for the unscrupulous to steal from the nation's coffers," Aquino said in his speech at the Good Governance Summit being held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).
One of the ways by which they intend to improve the procurement system is by introducing the Cashless Purchase Card, which lets government personnel use a card linked to an online system for authorized purchases.
The system will enable easier monitoring of government transactions, while facilitating accurate liquidation and auditing, and ensuring efficient and transparent financial management in government agencies.
Aquino said it will initially be implemented in the Department of Budget and Management, the Department of National Defense, and the headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
A limited number of cards will be distributed to the agencies for purchases covering medical supplies, meals, the transportation of official documents, airline tickets, and construction supplies for minor repairs.
If the program proves successful, its will be rolled out to other national government agencies next year, according to the President.
Apart from the cashless procurement system, Aquino said the government will also launch Open Data Philippines, a website which will collate all relevant government data and make them available to the public.
He said the data will range from the enrollment in public secondary schools to the budget and procurement data.Aquino said data will be made accessible through www.data.gov.ph starting Thursday.