Tolentino bats for uniform warehousing, inventory system in gov't

MANILA - Senator Francis "Tol" N. Tolentino is pushing for the establishment of a uniform warehousing and inventory system for all government entities involved in the procurement process.

Tolentino recently filed Senate Bill No. 2431--which seeks to amend Republic Act No. 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act and establish a "warehousing and inventory system" for all government procuring units.

According to Tolentino, the proposed legislation will mandate the Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) to promulgate a standard operating procedure manual on proper warehousing and inventory of acquired and purchased items to be used by procuring government institutions.

Tolentino earlier called on the Department of Education (DepEd) to enter into a partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) for the creation of an inventory management system for the DepEd's assets.

During the hearing on the DepEd's proposed 2022 budget last week, Tolentino made the suggestion when he tackled the Commission on Audit (COA) report flagging the agency's inventory system.

"My attention was called on several items referring to inventories. It is a tough matter to discuss and implement and perhaps concur with the suggestion of the Commission on Audit," said Tolentino.

Tolentino then advised Education Secretary Leonor Briones to tap the help of the DOST and the DICT to create an automated and cloud-based warehousing and inventory system.

"This would not be based on papers, ledgers, charts, etc. This would involve the DOST, perhaps the DICT with you at the helm and making the initiative," said Tolentino.

Briones, for her part, said she's amenable to Tolentino's suggestion, saying this should help put an end to the decades-old inventory problem, not just of DepEd, but other government agencies as well.

Stressing the importance of digitalization in achieving economic and social resilience, Senator Tolentino also filed a bill mandating the implementation of digitalized technologies in the local government level.

Tolentino filed Senate Bill No. 2430, which aims to amend Republic Act No. 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991, to mandate LGUs to implement a digitalized inventory and warehousing management system.

The senator said with the broader responsibilities devolved to local government units because of the implementation of the Mandanas ruling, it is necessary to ensure efficient delivery of basic services by the LGU, including accurate and transparent inventory and warehousing of procured goods.

As of now, LGUs are mandated to establish an archival system for all government properties, goods, and documents for proper inventory and safekeeping, but Tolentino said the process is not automated or electronic.

"The lack of automation then translates to inaccurate and inefficient tracking of procured goods as flagged annually by the Commission on Audit," Tolentino stressed.

"Hence, measures that would expedite digitalization of government processes, including inventory and warehousing of procured goods, should be adopted by the LGUs," he added.