From the last quarter of 2003, PWI has conducted several awareness-building sessions on the Government Procurement Reform Act (GPRA) for civil society organizations (CSOs) and professional associations (PAs) in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. To date, PWI has secured a Memorandum of Agreement with eighteen (18) organizations - eight (8) organizations from Luzon, seven (7) from Visayas, and three (3) from Mindanao. As per the provisions of the MOA, PWI trained these organizations on the GPRA in order for them to be effective Bids and Awards Committee Observers. In turn, the Observers will send their procurement monitoring reports either electronically or through regular mail to PWI.

On 16 December 2003, PWI conducted a hands-on training on electronic report submission for six (6) Luzon-based partner-organizations at the X-Site Internet Center in Megamall. A web-based system for central reporting/information sharing and dissemination was designed for CSOs with internet capability to enable them to share with other groups their observations of bidding activities of government agencies they monitor. The training gave the participants the chance to familiarize themselves with the features of the e-reporting system by uploading test reports for goods and consulting services.

On December 10, 2003 PWI presented its successful experience in policy advocacy in light of the passage of the Government Procurement Reform Act (GPRA) during the Training-Workshop on Public Procurement: Policy Strategy and Reform jointly sponsored by the International Development Law Organization and the World Bank on 10 December 2003 via videoconference to Rome, Italy.

From October 27, 2003, PWI conducted three (3) Awareness Building Sessions to provide civil society organizations (CSOs), professional associations, and business chambers a greater understanding of the GPRA and its IRR. The Sessions also became a venue for the development of a Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct for the observers of the BAC. Further, Memoranda of Agreement were entered into by and between PWI and most of the private sector organizations with the basic principles of taking a proactive stance in upholding transparency and accountability, and achieving equity, efficiency, effectiveness and economy in government procurement.

From October 2003 - PWI participated in the bidding activities, mostly bid openings, as an Observer of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) based on the pertinent provisions of the IRR/Government Procurement Reform Act (GPRA) of nineteen (19) government agencies. Diagnostic Reports for the bidding activities observed are submitted to the Heads of the procuring entities/BAC Chairpersons.

From July 11, 2003, PWI joined procurement experts from DBM-Procurement Service and DPWH in the orientation/training of officials of various government agencies on the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the GPRA.

On July 3, 2003 PWI held a Roundtable Meeting on Monitoring Compliance with Executive Order No. 40 at the Amorsolo A Function Room, Holiday Inn Manila Galleria on July 3, 2003. PWI presented its observations on bidding activities conducted by the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) agencies PWI monitored for the period of November 2002 to June 2003. Nineteen (19) officials of the BAC and BAC Secretariat of nine (9) government agencies participated in the Roundtable Meeting.

On June 17-18, 2003 at the Grand Astoria Hotel in Zamboanga City, a Seminar-Workshop on Policy Analysis and Advocacy Services was organized by the Growth with Equity in Mindanao Project. Procurement Watch Inc. presented its Policy Development Program and Strategy as a successful example of policy advocacy, in light of the passage of the Government Procurement Reform Act (GPRA), where PWI was at the forefront. The same presentation was given in the second leg of the Seminar-Workshop held on June 30- July 1, 2003 at the Pearlmont Inn, Cagayan de Oro City.

On June 13, 2003 at the Forest Hills Village Resort in Subic, the "DBM Team" composed of procurement experts from DBM-PS, DPWH and PWI presented the draft IRR/RA 9184 to the members of the DSWD BAC, TWG and Secretariat during the Enhancement Seminar on Procurement Management of DSWD.

On May 30, 2003 at the UP University Hotel during the National Management Development Conference, the "DBM Team" presented the draft IRR/RA 9184 to DSWD Management Officials of DSWD. The briefing promoted greater awareness and understanding of RA 9184 and its IRR.

On May 25-28, 2003 at the COEX Convention Center in Seoul, Republic of Korea, Procurement Watch, Inc. presented a three-part series entitled "Procurement Reform in the Philippines: Changing the Rules of the Game," during the 11th International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC).

On May 5 to 6, 2003 at the Estosan Hotel in Cotabato City, PWI Policy Advocacy Director Ms. Kristina Pimentel presented the governing principles and salient features of the Government Procurement Reform Act (RA 9184) in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao Business Council Seminar on Transparent Governance organized by the Growth with Equity in Mindanao Project.

On April 28, 2003 at the Manansala Hall, Manila Galleria Suites, the "DBM Team" composed of procurement experts from DBM-PS, DPWH and PWI, presented the provisions of the draft IRR/RA 9184 in the DAP-DBM Conference entitled "Making Procurement Reform Work for Good Governance". The Conference also highlighted the importance of the Government Electronic Procurement System (G-EPS) in the drive towards transparency in government. Around three hundred fifty (350) participants attended the one-day National Conference.

On February 11 - 12, 2003 - Procurement Watch Inc. (PWI) with support from the Asia Foundation (TAF) held a Consultative Workshop on the working draft of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Government Procurement Reform Act (RA 9184) at the AIM Conference Center. The objective of the consultative workshop was to gather stakeholders' inputs in the development of the IRR. Link to press archive article PWI Holds Consultative Workshop on Draft IRR of RA 9184.