THE Philippine Navy has launched a system that would ensure transparency of its procurement activities.
Maj. Gen. Dante Hidalgo, the Philippine Navy’s vice commander, said the Procurement Information System (PRISM) was part of the navy’s initiatives to strengthen systems and procedures of procurement.
PRISM is a web application which, the Philippine Navy said, was designed for “efficient monitoring” of their projects by integrating project status updates from procurement stakeholders.
This was developed at the Naval Information and Communications Technology Center “which is committed to providing a convenient procurement system while promoting transparency, competitiveness and accountability of its procurement process for the Philippine Navy.”
PRISM’s launch was witnessed by Jesus Ray Avilla, Defense assistant secretary for logistics and acquisitions, representing Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.
“I would like to emphasize that PRISM is more than just a service which connects interested service and product proponents to the Philippine Navy—it is the testament of the navy to institutionalize a corruption-free procurement system in line with the mandate of the President to rid of corruption in all levels of the government,” Hidalgo said.
In 2017, the Philippine Navy was hounded by a controversy surrounding the procurement of the two modern warships, which eventually led to the sacking of then-Navy chief Ronald Joseph Mercado, who was accused of favoring another company for the ships’ weapons systems.
Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, former special assistant to the president, was linked to the controversy but denied his involvement.
The Navy is one of the major service branches that has been actively modernizing its fleet, including its procurement of warships, naval helicopters and soon, submarines. DEMPSEY REYES
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