NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE 
S. No. 1857
of tlje & c ft'H’P
23 FEB “9 P2:01
RECEIVED Bv.
Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A GREEN PUBLIC PROCUREMENT PROGRAM FOR ALL
BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Under Section 16 Article II of the Constitution, the State is mandated to 
protect and advance the right of the Filipinos to a balance and healthful ecology in 
accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature. For this reason, the Philippines 
promote public governance with the use of services and related products which 
respond to basic needs and bring better quality of life while minimizing the use of 
natural resources and toxic materials.
Green procurement is no longer a new concept in the country. Since 2004, 
the Philippines had already initiated Green Procurement Program to support local 
suppliers with green products. At present, the Philippines adopted the Sustainable 
Development Goals agreed by the United Nations until 2030, and the UN 10-years 
Framework Program on sustainable consumption and production.
This bill seeks to institutionalize the Green Procurement Program (GPP). This 
is to support the ultimate goal to establish this program for all department, bureaus, 
offices and agencies of the government including local government units. 
Establishing the GPP will create a growing market for green supplies and equipment 
in the Philippines thereby promoting sustainable development. This initiative, if 
enacted into law, will have positive impact on the economy, society and 
environment.
As the Government will be the largest consumer of green products, it will 
change the market towards green with positive effects to the jobs and incomes of 
the Filipinos particularly those that are engaged in Micro, Small and Medium Sized 
Enterprises (MSMEs).
In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
MARK A.VlLLAR


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
S. No. -L Q 0 /
Of II).’ &
23 FEB-9 P2:01
RECEIVIOB^':
Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A GREEN PUBLIC PROCUREMENT PROGRAM FOR ALL
BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assem bled:
1 
Section 1. Short title. - This Act shall be known as the "Green Public
2 
Procurement Act.
3 
Sec 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State recognizes that sustainable
4 
development is a necessary policy for nation-building, and that it plays a lead role in
5 
promoting sustainable practices by incorporating environmental, economic and social
6 
factors in government decisions and processes. Further, the State, as a large
7 
consumer bloc in itself, recognizes that every product or service it purchases or
8 
avails of should be evaluated for its sustainability.
9 
As party to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the
10 
State remains committed to achieving the seventeen (17) Sustainable Development
11 
Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Guided by the SDGs and their targets, particularly SDG 12
12 
which sets the Sustainable Consumption and Production Goal that is embodied in the
13 
long-term vision of AmBisyon Natin 2040, the State shall implement programs
14 
geared towards responsible and sustainable consumption and production with the
15 
end view of achieving a fully circular economy.
16 
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:


1 
a. Green public procurement program refers to a process whereby public
2 
authorities seek to procure goods and services with reduced
3 
environmental impact throughout their cycle when compared to good and
4 
services with the same primary function that would otherwise be procured.
5 
It ensures value for money in terms of source, quantity, price, time and
6 
delivery. It prohibits the use of discriminatory criteria such as brands,
7 
labels or other supplier's requirements that could distort the open
8 
competition.
9 
b. Circular economy refers to a new and inclusive economic paradigm that
10 
aims to minimize pollution and waste, extend product lifecycles, and
11 
enable the broad sharing of physical and natural assets. It is a competitive
12 
economy that creates green and decent jobs and keeps resource use
13 
within planetary boundaries.
14 
c. Common-use supplies and equipment refer to those goods, materials and
15 
equipment that are used in the day-to-day operations of procuring entities
16 
in the performance of their functions.
17 
d. Procuring entity refers to the executive, judicial or legislative
18 
branch, constitutional commission or office, agency, department,
19 
bureau, office, or instrumentality of the government of the Philippines,
20 
including government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs),
21 
government financial institutions (GFIs), state universities and colleges
22 
(SUCs) and local government 
units (LGUs) procuring goods,
23 
infrastructure projects and consulting services.
24 
e. Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PHILGEPS)
25 
refers to the electronic system that shall serve as the primary and
26 
definitive source of information on government procurement.
27 
Sec. 4. Establishment of a Green Public Procurement (GPP) Program in all
28 
Branches of Government. - The executive, judicial and legislative branches of
29 
government, including constitutional commissions, state universities and colleges
30 
(SUCs), government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), government
31 
financial institutions (GFIs), and local government units (LGUs), shall implement a
32 
Green Public Procurement (GPP) Program to achieve sustainable consumption and


1 
production in government procurement in accordance with the GPP Roadmap
2 
established by the Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) for the purpose,
3 
consistent with the governing principles of Republic Act No. 9184, or the Government
4 
Procurement Reform Act.
5 
SEC. 5. Objectives of the Green Public Procurement (GPP) Program. -
6 
The GPP Program shall have the following objectives:
7 
a) To promote the culture of making green, sustainable, and informed
8 
decisions in government, especially in government procurement;
9 
b) To require the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement
10 
System (PHILGEPS) in coordination with the Procurement Service of the
11 
Department of Budget and Management to identify all government
12 
agencies procuring common-use supplies and equipment (CSE) and non-
13 
common use supplies and equipment (non-CSE) identified by GPPB as
14 
part of the Green Procurement Roadmap;
15 
c) To promote the preferential use of green criteria in government
16 
procurement whenever possible and practicable;
17 
d) For the relevant government agencies to develop technical specifications
18 
for CSE and non-CSE products, taking into account among others, the
19 
following processes and principles:
20 
i. 
Development of a standard template consisting of scope, key
21 
environmental impact of a product in terms of its material
22 
composition, use and eventual disposal, product specifications,
23 
evidence, verification and references;
24 
ii. 
Extensive research of GPP technical specifications, taking into
25 
account international and national specifications of countries with
26 
extensive GPP experience;
27 
iii. 
Documentation of comments and feedback on the technical
28 
specifications of the various products;
29 
iv. 
Conduct of environmental impact studies of a product in terms of
30 
its material composition, use, and eventual disposal; and
31 
V. 
Inclusion of employment generation, safe working environment,
32 
and supply-chain management in the formulation of a long-term


1 
sustainability criteria.
2 
e) To establish and include green criteria or specifications developed by the
3 
GPPB in the project or product requirements of procuring entities; and
4 
f) For the relevant government agencies to develop programs for
5 
manufacturers and suppliers of green and sustainable products and
6 
services for relevant government agencies.
7 
SEC. 6. Functions of the Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB). - In
8 
addition to its existing functions, the GPPB shall perform the following:
9 
a) Protect the national interest in all matters affecting public procurement, giving
10 
due regard to the country's regional and international obligations;
11 
b) Ensure the incorporation of the concept of sustainability in the procurement
12 
activities of the government. The GPP Program shall be implemented in
13 
phases, taking into account the readiness of both the government agencies as
14 
well as green product suppliers to implement the program;
15 
c) Centralize the information on GPP guidelines and procedure, green criteria,
16 
green product listing of information and verification methods;
17 
d) Design and conduct capacity building and training programs for government
18 
procuring entities and green product suppliers and service providers,
19 
particularly the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to encourage
20 
consistency in the delivery of green products and services and efficiency in
21 
implementing the GPP requirements;
22 
e) Develop incentive schemes, such as recognition or awards for GPP performing
23 
units to increase motivation and catalyze action for better performance and
24 
environmental stewardship; and
25 
f) Establish standard monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to measure the
26 
compliance of procuring entities to the criteria.
27 
SEC. 7. Submission of Plans and Reports. - All agencies shall submit their
28 
respective GPP Programs to the GPPB, the specific requirements and mechanisms of
29 
which shall be defined in the rules and regulations to be promulgated to implement
30 
this Act. The GPPB shall, in turn, submit an annual report to the Committee on
31 
Sustainable Development Goals of the House of Representatives and to the
32 
Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, Innovation and Futures Thinking of


1 
the Senate on the compliance of the different agencies with the provisions of this
2 
Act.
3 
Sec. 8. Third party Verification. - The GPPB shall identify competent third-
4 
party verifiers that will assess the environmental soundness and sustainability of the
5 
CSE and non-CSE that will be procured. All agencies of the government identified in
6 
this Act are mandated to comply with the green criteria established by the GPPB,
7 
along with the other technical specifications required by the agency for the particular
8 
procurement, in accordance with the relevant provisions of RA No. 9184 and its IRR.
9 
The GPPB shall provide a list of certified environmentally-sound and sustainably-
10 
produced products and services, and accredited testing centers and manufacturers
11 
for reference of the agencies which shall be updated regularly by the GPPB based on
12 
the established green criteria for specific goods and items included in the GPP
13 
Program and Roadmap.
14 
Sec. 9. Capability-building of Government Agencies and Information,
15 
Education and Communication (lEC) Awareness Programs. - The GPPB shall
16 
regularly implement capacity building and information, education and communication
17 
programs to develop capacities and enhance awareness and understanding on the
18 
implementation of the GPP Program. These programs will include the conduct and
19 
provision of the following:
20 
a) Training needs assessment of the entire public sector;
21 
b) Relevant training programs and modules for all government agencies or
22 
procuring entities;
23 
c) Technical assistance and conduct of awareness programs for suppliers,
24 
particularly the MSMEs; and
25 
d) lEC awareness campaigns and programs for all government agencies or
26 
procuring entities, MSMEs, and the general public.
27 
SEC. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within thirty (30) days from
28 
the effectivity of this Act, the GPPB shall in coordination with the Commission on
29 
Audit (COA) and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA),
30 
promulgate and issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective
31 
implementation of this Act.


1 
Sec. 11. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is
2 
declared unconstitutional or invalid, the portions or provisions which are not affected
3 
shall continue to be in full force and effect.
4 
Sec. 12. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders,
5 
rules and regulations contrary or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
6 
hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly.
7 
Sec. 13. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
8 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation in the
9 
Philippines.
Approved,