MSU–Maguindanao and GPPB-TSO Forge Partnership to Strengthen Procurement Capacity-Building Nationwide

October 14, 2025 | Mindanao State University–Maguindanao (MSU–Mag) and the Government Procurement Policy Board–Technical Support Office (GPPB-TSO), an agency attached to the Department of Budget and Management, have formally entered into a partnership through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that aims to enhance the professionalization of public procurement practitioners across the country.

The agreement was signed by Dr. Bai Hejira Nefertiti M. Limbona, Chancellor of MSU–Maguindanao, and Atty. Maria Dionesia A. Rivera-Guillermo, Officer-in-Charge of GPPB-TSO. The signing was witnessed by Dr. Arceli B. Naraga, Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development of MSU–Maguindanao, and Atty. Sofia C. Yanto-Abad, Deputy Director General of GPPB-TSO.

The partnership is anchored on Republic Act No. 12009, or the New Government Procurement Act (NGPA), which institutionalizes a Whole-of-Government Approach to procurement capacity development. Under this approach, all branches and instrumentalities of government—including state universities and colleges—are enjoined to allocate resources for training procurement personnel and enhancing transparency and efficiency in public spending.

Through the NGPA Training Caravan, the GPPB-TSO seeks to bring its capacity-building initiatives to the grassroots, empowering procurement stakeholders such as Bids and Awards Committees (BACs), BAC Secretariats, Technical Working Groups (TWGs), end-users, suppliers, and observers. MSU–Maguindanao, with its strong regional presence and academic expertise, will serve as a key implementing partner in Mindanao for the rollout of these training sessions.

Under the MOA, MSU–Maguindanao will organize and deliver NGPA-aligned training programs in collaboration with the GPPB-TSO, ensuring consistent and policy-based dissemination of the law and its Implementing Rules and Regulations. The University will also develop and facilitate training modules for Heads of Procuring Entities (HoPEs), BAC members, end-users, and suppliers at the national and local levels.

For its part, the GPPB-TSO will provide resource speakers, standardized training materials, technical assistance, and official learning platforms to ensure the quality and uniformity of all training activities. Both institutions have agreed to uphold data privacy standards, proper use of intellectual property, and consistent branding in all promotional and educational materials.

Advancing Good Governance through Collaboration

The partnership underscores MSU-Maguindanao’s commitment to advancing transparency, accountability, and good governance through education and institutional collaboration. By joining the NGPA Caravan, the University expands its role as a catalyst for reform—bridging policy and practice in public procurement across Mindanao’s diverse localities.

This collaboration also reinforces the government’s broader agenda to strengthen fiscal responsibility, improve service delivery, and ensure that every peso spent translates into tangible benefits for the Filipino people.