Proficiency of Personnel: Key to Effective and Efficient Procurement

Abstract

Effective and efficient procurement system results in the best value for money and transparency. The study assessed the adherence of the Northern Mindanao Division of Social Security System to procurement policies provided in Republic Act No. 9184 – The Government Procurement Reform Act (GPRA) and its revised Implementing Rules and Regulation. Specifically, this answered the query on how adherent is the procurement procedure of Northern Mindanao Division of Social Security System to procurement policies. The study employed a descriptive research design utilizing a combination of document analysis, observation, and interview as data gathering tools. The data were obtained using a researcher-made checklist designed to assess adherence to procurement policies and analyzed using a descriptive statistics. Primary data were validated through a semi-structured interview and triangulated through observation or from available secondary data. Results showed the respondents were not fully adherent because of the inadequacy of technical expertise. There were areas of its existing procurement processes that needed to be corrected or re-engineered. Among the salient areas that should be improved are the professionalizing of all procurement personnel and amending its internal rules and policies to come-up with adherent, modernized, standardized and regulated procurement activities that are compliant with the core principles anchored by GPRA, namely: transparency, accountability, equity, efficiency and economy. Keywords - Social Science, procurement, Government Procurement Reform Act (GPRA), Shopping, Small Value Procurement, PhilGEPS, descriptive design, Philippines