Gender-Responsive Procurement GRP Pilot Event Recap 2026 WBE

The way the Philippine government buys products and services is undergoing a massive transformation. As a business owner, staying ahead of these legal and procedural changes is the only way to secure long-term growth. I am proud to share my official Gender-Responsive Procurement GRP Pilot Event Recap 2026 WBE following an intense day on the ground.

On Monday, June 1, 2026, I attended this landmark event at The Westin Manila in Mandaluyong City, focusing specifically on the Women Business Enterprise track. I received the official invitation directly from the SEC or Securities and Exchange Commission, and I knew immediately that our organization needed to be in that room. I was there to represent Clickerwayne Zelle Solutions Inc. and our three major business units: Wholesale Dito Store, Low Price Dito, and USmile. My primary objective was to learn the exact processes the national government is implementing to award contracts to female entrepreneurs.

The New Legal Framework: RA 12009

You cannot understand the purpose of this pilot event without first looking at the law that created it. The event was organized by the Government Procurement Policy Board Technical Support Office (GPPB-TSO), with major technical backing from the World Bank. The entire day was dedicated to operationalizing a specific section of Republic Act No. 12009, also known as the New Government Procurement Act.

For over twenty years, public bidding was governed by older frameworks that were often too complicated for small or medium businesses to navigate. RA 12009 changes the rules completely. The state now has a declared policy to promote good governance by focusing on transparency, competitiveness, efficiency, proportionality, and accountability in government procurement.

This new law introduces updated principles designed to make the system fair. For example, it mandates the use of emerging technologies to create an organized and straightforward process. The goal is to attract a broader range of bidders and improve the overall cost-effectiveness of government spending. It even introduces new modes of procurement to speed up the process, such as Competitive Dialogue, Unsolicited Offer with Bid Matching, Direct Acquisition, and Direct Sales. The government is making it very clear that they want to do business with a wider variety of suppliers, and they are upgrading their legal framework to make that happen.

Section 75 and the Inclusive Procurement Program

Overview of Section 75 Inclusive Procurement Program under the New Government Procurement Act RA 12009

While RA 12009 covers many different aspects of government buying, the spotlight of this event was Section 75. This specific section of the law officially establishes the Inclusive Procurement Program.

Under Section 75, government procuring entities are now legally mandated to encourage the active participation of marginalized groups and socially responsible enterprises. The law specifically states that the government must give weight to gender parity, ethnic equity, and other social factors when awarding contracts.

This is a monumental shift. The government recognizes that public procurement is not just about acquiring cheap goods. It is a strategic tool for advancing inclusive economic growth, promoting social equity, and ensuring environmental sustainability. This builds upon earlier efforts, like GPPB Resolution No. 01-2023, which called for an enabling environment that stimulates equal opportunities for women-owned businesses. By passing RA 12009, the government turned those resolutions into strict legal requirements. Procuring entities must now prioritize inclusivity and focus on gender equity across all their activities. For a female-led organization like Clickerwayne Zelle Solutions Inc., this means the barriers to entry are finally being removed.

Decoding the Women Business Enterprise Qualifications

A major part of the morning session was led by Rovena Mushaq, an International Consultant from the World Bank. Her presentation focused on defining who exactly qualifies for the Inclusive Procurement Program. The government cannot award you a contract based on gender parity if you do not meet their strict legal definitions.

The event welcomed both established suppliers and new entrants, as long as they fell into one of four specific categories under the Women Business Enterprise framework.

Women-Owned Business: This category applies to an enterprise where at least fifty-one percent of the business is owned by one or more women. The government requires this majority stake to ensure that the actual financial control of the company remains with female founders.
Women-Led Business: This category is for companies where the majority of senior management roles or board positions are held by women. Specifically, the business must have at least 20 percent women equity along with a female Chief Executive Officer or President. Alternatively, the company can qualify if at least 30 percent of its board of directors are women.
Women-Dominated Cooperatives: This definition exists to support grassroots economic groups. To qualify here, the organization must be a cooperative officially registered with the Cooperative Development Authority, and the proven majority of its active members must be women.
Women-Sole Proprietors: This is the most straightforward category. It applies to independent sole proprietorships that are registered with the Department of Trade and Industry under a woman’s name.

Understanding these definitions is the very first step toward getting certified. For Wholesale Dito Store, ensuring our corporate structure aligns perfectly with these definitions is a top priority.

Real-Time Networking and Industry Connections

Female entrepreneurs and business leaders networking at the Gender-Responsive Procurement Pilot Event

Live events provide opportunities that you simply cannot get through a computer screen. The room was filled with highly driven female leaders representing a wide variety of industries. This level of diversity proves that female entrepreneurs are capable of dominating sectors far beyond basic retail.

During the breaks and networking sessions, I had the chance to exchange calling cards, discuss supply chain logistics, and talk about potential business partnerships. Connecting with these peers is what turns a government policy into a real, functional business ecosystem. I want to highlight a few of the outstanding enterprises I connected with on the convention floor.

AbacaTek Musa, Enterprises Inc.: I had the pleasure of sitting right next to their Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Julie Ann S. Venson. Their main office is located on the 3rd floor of the 52 Guevent Building along Domingo M. Guevara St. in Brgy Mauway, Mandaluyong City. They are doing incredible work in the sustainable textile industry. We discussed their main product lines, which include AbaSoft Fabrics and their 100% Special Abaca Fabric. She also shared insights about their absolute best seller, the AbacaTek Yarn. Given the government's new push for sustainable and locally sourced materials, AbacaTek Musa is in a prime position to win major contracts.
SABS (SMS Accounting & Bookkeeping Services): Securing a government contract is impossible if your financial records are not in perfect order. That is why my conversation with Sheila Marie-Sevilla was so valuable. She is the Chief Compliance Officer and Managing Owner of SABS, located on Kerria Rose Street in the Gardenia Valley Subdivision in Molino III, Bacoor City, Cavite. SABS provides the exact financial services that growing businesses need. Their portfolio includes startup accounting solutions, digital bookkeeping migration, business registration assistance, tax preparation, and BIR-compliant financial records. They even offer BIR and SEC audit support and can liaise directly with government agencies on your behalf.
NB LIFE SAFETY CORPORATION: I also had a great conversation with Krisha Faye Abuycan, who represented NB Life Safety Corporation. They are based on the 3rd floor of the Leticia Bldg at the corner of Julio Nakpil St. and Taft Avenue in Malate, Manila. They operate in the highly lucrative medical and safety sector. They function as a complete medical supply store, providing hospital equipment, dentist office supplies, and safety and first aid services. Because state hospitals and local health departments are massive government buyers, NB Life Safety has a huge market available to them. Interestingly, they also run a secondary business called Labahan Ng Bayan, which provides industrial laundry services.
CNR 8910 INDUSTRIAL INC: To completely break the stereotype of what female-led businesses look like, I spoke with Ms. Rhea Reyes, the President of CNR 8910 Industrial Inc. Her company is headquartered at the MBSM Comp. Bldg 3C, No. 107 Lopez Jaena St. in Brgy Tanong, Marikina City. She runs a heavy industrial distribution company. They supply heavy construction equipment, industrial power tools, and professional-grade Personal Protective Equipment. With the government constantly funding new infrastructure and public works projects, companies like CNR 8910 are perfectly aligned to supply those massive initiatives.
YIN WOOD EVEREST PRINTING CO. LTD: I spent some time talking with General Manager Ms. Almabella Alzona. Her company is a comprehensive printing provider handling everything from everyday administrative items to large-scale marketing runs. They offer offset printing, digital printing, custom enhancing, web to print, image personalization, risograph printing, and tarpaulin printing. They actively serve individuals, the private sector, and the government sector. Since public offices, public schools, and national agencies consistently put out bids for massive print publications, informational modules, and event collateral, a robust printing partner like Yin Wood Everest Printing is an excellent match for government tracks.

The PhilGEPS Walkthrough and Registration

After a morning of high-level policy discussions and networking, the afternoon transitioned into technical training. For the Women Business Enterprises, we were directed to Track A. This track was dedicated entirely to a live tutorial for the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System.

Philgeps is the central online portal for all public contracting in the Philippines. If your company does not have an active, verified account on this website, you are legally prohibited from bidding on government projects.

Officials from the Procurement Service and the Department of Budget and Management took the stage to guide us through the system. They demonstrated how to use the search functions to track specific bid notices in our respective industries. They also provided a detailed look at the eBidding facility, which allows merchants to submit their proposals digitally, cutting down on the massive amount of physical paperwork that used to be required.

The organizers also set up a live registration desk directly inside the hall. They instructed all attendees prior to the event to bring their foundational corporate documents. To get an account created or upgraded on the spot, business owners had to present a valid government-issued ID, their official business registration documents, their Taxpayer Identification Number, and an active corporate email address.

Positioning Wholesale Dito Store for the Future

The Philippines is taking a massive step forward by turning gender-responsive procurement into law. By attending this 2026 pilot event, Clickerwayne Zelle Solutions Inc. proved that we are proactive and ready to adapt.

We are not just reading about these changes online. We are showing up, submitting our paperwork, and making sure our inventory systems meet the strict standards required by national agencies. We know the rules of RA 12009, we understand the Inclusive Procurement Program, and we are officially registered on the digital platforms.

If you represent a government procuring entity or a private contractor looking for a verified, highly capable supplier, our team is ready to deliver. You can explore our complete product catalogs and connect with our sales team directly at the Wholesale Dito Store website.

About the Author

Zelle
CEO and Co-Founder,
Clickerwayne Zelle Solutions Inc.

Zelle leads B2B wholesale strategy and enterprise compliance, streamlining high-volume procurement for government and corporate sectors.

References and Sources

The institutional frameworks, agency mandates, and procurement laws discussed in this report are based on the official web portals of the relevant regulatory bodies of the Republic of the Philippines: