THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has expanded the government’s green procurement program by adding electric vehicles (EVs) and cloud computing services at discounted prices to its online buying platform eMarketplace under the Procurement Service (PS-DBM) unit.
“This is part of a larger transformation agenda that seeks to build a government that is greener, more innovative, digitally empowered, future-ready, and truly deserving of the trust of the Filipino people,” Budget Secretary Kim Robert de Leon said in a statement.
In the expanded program, government agencies may procure EVs through eMarketplace, where hybrid electric vehicles have previously been available.
Participating EV companies include Cross Country Motors Inc., Foton, KIA, Maroon Studios, and Mobility Access Philippines Ventures Inc. (MAPVI), the distributor of BYD vehicles in the country.
KIA and VinFast are also being evaluated for inclusion.
Cloud computing services have likewise been added to the list of green technology products.
The inclusion of new products on its procurement platform will help agencies lower operating expenses and reduce their environmental footprint, PS-DBM said.
EVs are offered at discounts ranging from six to seven percent below prevailing market prices, while cloud computing services provide savings of up to 30 percent through committed-use discounts under one-year lock-in arrangements, PS-DBM Executive Director Genmaries Entredicho-Caong said.
The eMarketplace virtual store carries 146 common-use supplies and equipment items, 39 of which are classified green products, reflecting DBM’s growing commitment to sustainable procurement practices.
“These collective efforts from government and the private sector clearly demonstrate that the shift toward sustainable and energy-efficient solutions is no longer a distant aspiration, but a shared and pressing responsibility,” Caong said.
Dennis Santiago, Deputy Executive Secretary for Support Services and Auxiliaries at the Office of the President, expressed support for the initiative.
“When digitalization is paired with efficient systems such as the eMarketplace, government procurement becomes more capable of delivering services that are efficient, accountable, and transparent,” Santiago said.
