Manila:Acting Budget Secretary Kim Robert de Leon has emphasized the critical role of procurement reforms in enhancing regional competitiveness and fostering economic growth across Southeast Asia. Speaking at a high-level dialogue, De Leon called on members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to refine procurement procedures, broaden business opportunities, and enhance accountability to ensure that public spending results in better services and economic development.

According to Philippines News agency, De Leon proposed three key areas for regional cooperation enhancing digital procurement and open contracting, promoting the participation of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and increasing capacity-building and technical exchanges among procurement professionals. He emphasized the importance of simplifying procurement requirements, improving access to information, and promoting fair competition to enable more businesses, especially MSMEs, to engage in government projects.

De Leon highlighted the significance of measuring procurement efficiency not only by cost reduction but also by the quality and impact of government-funded projects. Citing the Philippines' procurement reforms, he mentioned Republic Act 12009, the New Government Procurement Act, which was signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in 2024, as a step towards modernizing the procurement system by focusing on value for money, digitalization, and public participation.

The dialogue, organized in support of the Philippines' 2026 ASEAN Chairship, was funded by the European Union and received technical assistance from the United Nations Development Programme Philippines. It gathered ASEAN government officials, development partners, business representatives, and civil society organizations to explore ways to make public procurement a catalyst for investment, competitiveness, and inclusive growth.