Written by AVP Tiffany Adelaine Tan
DRIVING EXCELLENCE. The Summit delegates, led by UP Vice President Prof. Augustus Resurreccion, accompanied by UP Chancellors Atty. Leo Malagar of UP Cebu and Dr. Michael Tee of UP Manila, gather for a group photo. Among the delegates are AVP for Administration, Prof. Tiffany Adelaine Tan, System Procurement Head, Atty. Flor Ofilada, the Vice-Chancellors, Deputy General, Associate Dean, SPMO heads, procurement officers, and key office staff from all eight constituent universities and autonomous units.
The first Procurement and Property & Supply Management Summit, hosted by the University of the Philippines Office of the Vice President for Administration (OVPA), marked a significant milestone in the university’s commitment to enhancing operational efficiency and aligning with the overarching vision of ONE UP. Held at UP Cebu in Cebu City, this summit served as a dynamic platform for industry experts, academic leaders, and practitioners to converge and delve into innovative strategies essential for optimal logistics management and organizational advancement.
Taking place over two days, from 07 to 08 March 2024, the summit welcomed the heads of procurement and SPMOs, including two chancellors, the vice-chancellors for administration, the deputy general, and the associate dean from constituent universities and autonomous units. Their presence underscored the collective dedication toward fostering excellence in procurement, property, and supply management across the university ecosystem.
The event’s agenda was thoughtfully curated to encompass keynote presentations, interactive panel discussions, and invaluable networking sessions, all tailored to inspire actionable insights and foster collaboration among attendees. By leveraging the expertise and diverse perspectives of stakeholders, the summit aimed to catalyze transformative initiatives that will propel UP towards greater operational efficacy and sustainable success.
In essence, the Procurement and Property & Supply Management Summit epitomized UP’s unwavering commitment to innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement, setting a precedent for future endeavors aimed at elevating the university’s administrative capabilities and advancing its mission of excellence in education, research, and service to the nation.
Day 1 Highlights
The summit commenced with networking among the delegates, laying the foundation for engaging discussions and knowledge sharing. President Angelo Jimenez delivered his opening remarks, emphasizing the significance of the summit’s theme in augmenting the university’s operational efficiency. He reminded everyone that UP must strive for excellence as the nation depends on it. The President also underscored the administration’s pivotal role in achieving academic excellence, highlighting that UP cannot attain academic prowess if it faces administrative challenges. Concluding his message, the President reiterated that UP’s duty is to serve with honor and excellence in the service of the nation!
The day concluded with a synthesis by Mr. Isagani Bagus, Head of the System SPMO. He emphasized that today’s summit marks the beginning of a new chapter, presenting a significant challenge, especially for the procurement, supply, and property management units of the University of the Philippines. These units play a crucial role as partners of the university in delivering public service, teaching, and extension activities.
Vice President Augustus Resurreccion, entitled his talk, “We’re from the Procurement Office and SPMO, of Course…” VP Augie, as he is fondly called, covered various topics, including challenges and opportunities in procurement and supply and property management, UP’s strategic plan and policy directions, and the importance of a strategic mindset and continuous improvement. He emphasized that UP should master compliance and be committed to supporting the UP Strategic Plan while delivering efficient and quality public service through a balanced scorecard and a mindset of continuous improvement.
Following VP Augie, Atty. Flor Rissa Ofilada from the UP System and Diliman Procurement Office discussed “Procurement Paradigm Shift: Mastering Mindset Makeovers for Optimal Performance.” She highlighted four pillars of procurement: people empowerment, systems digitalization, modernization of processes, and community engagement. She concluded her presentation with the mantra “LIPAD” and emphasized the importance of the procurement dashboard.
VP for Administration Augustus Resurreccion (left); UP System & Diliman Procurement Director Atty. Rissa Ofilada (right)
Next, Professor Iris Ann Martinez from the College of Engineering, UP Diliman, delved into supply chain management, addressing various aspects such as stockouts, supply chain disruptions, and contemporary inventory management methods. She stressed the importance of understanding the supply chain for achieving operational excellence.
Mr. Frederick Porras from PS DBM discussed efficient inventory management as vital for optimizing operational efficiency and minimizing costs. He emphasized the role of well-managed supply chains in improving order fulfillment, reducing lead times, and enhancing customer satisfaction.
College of Engineering Professor Iris Ann Martinez (left); PS-DBM Assistant Depot Supervisor Mr. Frederick Porras (right)
Ms. Ruby Lee Belandres from the Commission on Audit explained guidelines and procedures for the one-time cleansing of PPE account balances of government agencies to ensure reliability and accountability.
Associate Professor Peter Sy from UP Diliman focused on achieving operational excellence through digital transformation, emphasizing process streamlining, automation adoption, and waste reduction initiatives.
Ms. Ruby Lee Belandres (left); UP System Digital Transformation Adviser Associate Professor Peter Sy (right)
Finally, Assistant Vice President Tiffany Adelaine Tan discussed building a strong organizational culture for enhanced employee engagement. She highlighted the importance of ethical leadership and emphasized UP’s core values of Honor, Excellence, and Service.
Mr. Bagus ended the day by reiterating President Jimenez’s reminder of the importance of UP’s excellence in procurement, property & supply management for the nation’s benefit. He emphasized the university’s role in serving the country with integrity and dedication.
Assistant Vice President Tiffany Adelaine Tan (left); System Supply and Management Office Head Isagani L. Bagus (right)
The following photos document the events of the first day. They showcase the speakers, and delegates, and, just before the conclusion of Day 1, a group photo was taken at the UP Cebu oblation.
Day 1 ended with a dinner fellowship with the delegates.
The UP Students’ Theater Arts Guild for Education – UPSTAGE and UP Serenata performed during the fellowship night.
The delegates from different constituent units and autonomous units during the first day of the SPMO Summit 2024.
The SPMO Summit 2024 host, the University of the Philippines Cebu.
Day 2 Highlights
Day 2 commenced with a recap of Day 1 led by Mr. Ronel Clariza, Section Head of the Property Utility Section at UP Diliman SPMO. The focus then shifted to the SPMO heads, who shared their 2023-2029 Scorecard and Strategy. During this session, SPMO heads presented strategies aimed at aligning customer demands, internal processes, learning and development, and operational efficiency with university strategic goals. Mr. Rogelio Estrada from UP Diliman HRDO challenged the SPMO heads to commit to collaboration, sharing best practices, and supporting each other in fulfilling the ONE UP SPMO vision and mission for the nation.
The theme remained consistent throughout the summit: “Honor and Excellence in the Service of the Nation.” Executive Vice President Jose Fernandez concluded the inaugural summit by reminding attendees of the purpose behind their gathering.
Supply and Property Management Office (SPMO) Heads engaged in a panel discussion/open forum with the delegates.
Key Takeaways
Throughout the summit, several key takeaways emerged. Presenters underscored the importance of strategic planning, process optimization, and digital transformation in advancing operational excellence. From inventory management to regulatory compliance, each session provided actionable insights for enhancing efficiency and effectiveness in procurement and supply management, aligning with UP’s core values of conducting activities with honor and excellence in the service of the nation.
This first Procurement and Property & Supply Management Summit 2024 served as a platform for collaboration and learning, enabling participants to gain valuable insights and strategies for driving excellence in logistics management. As organizations navigate increasingly complex supply chains, the importance of continuous improvement and innovation cannot be overstated. By implementing the lessons learned from the summit and fostering strong collaborations, UP will accomplish its goal of ONE UP and excellent operational service, truly playing its leadership role for the betterment of the nation.
Supply and Property Management Office (SPMO) Heads engaged in a panel discussion/open forum with the delegates.