MANILA -- The government is on track in its pursuit to implement Green Public Procurement (GPP)—with the convening of an Inter-Agency Technical Specifications Review Committee (IATSRC) by the Procurement Service–Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM).

“The establishment of an Inter-Agency Technical Specifications Review Committee is one of the reform initiatives we spearheaded in PS-DBM to take government procurement to a sustainable track,” said Executive Director Dennis Santiago.

The IATSRC will assess, review and evaluate existing Common-Use Supplies and Equipment (CSE) Technical Specifications to adhere to and comply with local and international standards—taking into account the environmental, social and economic aspects of public acquisition, alongside Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12 on Responsible Consumption and Production.

Under a GPP regime, the government shall procure goods and services with reduced environmental impact throughout their life cycle.

Santiago explained, “GPP provides opportunity for government agencies to infuse environmental friendly parameters and requirements in the products that we procure, and in the process avoid the use of toxic substances; prioritize alternative green materials; reduce energy and water consumption during use; and recycle at the end of the useful life of the product.”

Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman commended Santiago, “Green procurement is responsible procurement.  Integrating green choices in public procurement puts us closer to our ultimate goal of ensuring sustainable management and use of natural resources by 2030.”

Apart from PS-DBM, the members of the IATSRC include the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR); Department of Trade and Industry (DTI); Department of Science and Technology (DOST); Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT); and Department of Energy (DOE). (DBM)