Use I.T. to eliminate graft -- GMA

PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has directed all government agencies to promote transparency and eliminate the potentials of graft and corruption by using information technology in the procurement process.

“This is especially critical for departments and government agencies procuring a lot of supplies and implementing huge projects like the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH),” she pointed out.

“Other departments should follow suit the document tracking system for procurement which, as the DPWH has reported, is already being implemented,” the President noted.

In line with President Arroyo’s directive, the DPWH is adopting the computerized Document Tracking System (DoTS) for procurement of goods in the DPWH Central Office.

In his Department Order No. 56, DPWH Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane said that the DPWH Central Office’s procurement of goods which refers to all items, supplies, materials and general support services being utilized in the daily operation of the department are now mandatory to be included in the DoTS System.

Initially, the DoTS System was developed by the DPWH Road Information Monitoring and Management System (RIMMS) and the Monitoring and Information Service (MIS), which aims to utilize information technology in the processing of contractors’ claims on DPWH projects.

DPWH MIS Director Elizabeth Yap said that the computerized procurement system does not only eliminate the possibility of graft and corruption but it will also speed up the processing time of documents from months to a few days.

Among the documents that are now to be integrated in the computerized system are the Annual Procurement Plan, Project Procurement Management Plan, Purchase Request, Agency Purchase Request, Resolution of Award, Purchase Order, Notice of Award/ Notice to Proceed, Disbursement Voucher for regular procurement and Disbursement Voucher for Reimbursement.