FPRDI testing lab aids DBM’s Procurement Service, contributes to government savings
September 28, 2012
Mr. Estanislao C. Granados Jr., Executive Director of the Department of Budget and Management’s Procurement Service (DBM-PS), met with FPRDI Deputy Director Felix B. Tamolang and Pulp and Paper Products Development Section Chief Ms. Adela S. Torres on 31 August 2012 to discuss possible improvements on the Institute’s paper testing service for DBM-PS.
The DBM-PS is the government’s central procurement arm in-charge of the purchase and distribution of office goods common to all government offices, in accordance with the Government Procurement Reform Act. The Procurement Law promotes the economic, efficient, and transparent procurement activities of all government agencies.
According to Torres, “Dir. Granados asked our Pulp and Paper Testing Laboratory (PPTL) to fast-track and prioritize all testing requests from the DBM-PS. Normally, it takes PPTL at least 10 days to completely analyze 10 or more paper samples due to the large volume of clients. Now, FPRDI will have to complete testing within three days.” She added, “Their request to hasten the testing service is valid given the number of agencies they serve nationwide. The DBM-PS wants to ensure that clients get their supplies on time.”
“DBM-PS requires all suppliers to submit samples of their paper products to PPTL for testing; only those that pass test protocols will be eligible for public bidding,” stressed Torres. The PPTL subjects the samples to various tests that measure the paper’s grammage, thickness, stiffness, brightness, opacity, tear strength, oil penetration, water absorption, and fiber quality.
According to Tamolang, “The PPTL has been a long-time partner of PS in ensuring that the paper products delivered to client agencies pass the standards according to the Department of Trade and Industry’s Bureau of Product Standards.” Early this year, the PPTL renewed its accreditation according to PNS ISO/IEC 17025:2005 or the General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories by the Philippine Accreditation Office (PAO).
“With the centralized and direct procurement by the PS, the government saves about 30% in the cost of its paper supplies, and the Institute’s contribution to this cannot be ignored,” Tamolang concluded. ### (Apple Jean C. Martin, 14 September 2012)
