QUEZON CITY - The Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), through the Administrative and Finance Unit – Office of the Director (AFU-OD), conducted the training on modernized procurement entitled Elevating the Procurement Process: Training on mPhilGEPS.”

The training aimed to equip participants with the skills to navigate and utilize the features and functionalities of the mPhilGEPS platform to perform tasks from procurement planning to contract implementation.

A total of 50 procurement officers composed of members of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), Technical Working Group (TWG), and BAC Secretariat from the ATI Central Office and its network of Training Centers attended the training. The ATI -RTC 13 was represented by Violeta T. Laguna, OIC Assistant Center Director/BAC Chairperson, and Mary Grace B. Salve, BAC Secretariat Head.

Mr. Arniel A. Abellonar, one of the resource persons, discussed the background of PhilGEPS and introduced the upgraded version – mPhilGEPS, including an e-bidding facility, account management, and the roles of procurement officers.

Additionally, Mr. Rogelio DP Labrador Jr. discussed the new procurement law RA 12009 and highlighted the different modes of procurement with the fit-to-purpose approach.

The trainees engaged in hands-on exercises in the Annual Procurement Plan (APP) and Supplemental APP preparation and uploading. They navigated the mPhilGEPS features from PR preparation, approval, and bid notice to contract management.

During the closing program, Mr. Roy Son R. dela Cruz outlined the next steps, which include issuing a memo on key highlights and agreements, identifying mPhilGEPS users, providing technical guidance and input sessions on mPhilGEPS in preparation for the pilot implementation by January 2025.

The training was held at the Rural Development Education Center, ATI Central Office in Diliman, Quezon City, on September 16-20, 2024.