Procurement by and for the People: Leo A. Omamalin Becomes SLSU & Southern Leyte’s First GPPB-Recognized Trainer

The landscape of Philippine public service underwent a seismic shift with the enactment of Republic Act No. 12009, better known as the “New Government Procurement Act” (NGPA). As the law’s Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) took effect on February 25, 2025, a nationwide call echoed for experts capable of navigating this complex new regulatory framework. Amid this transition, Mr. Leo A. Omamalin has emerged as a trailblazer for Southern Leyte State University (SLSU), becoming the institution’s first-ever employee to be recognized as a Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) Trainer.

Based on GPPB Resolution No. 02-2026 dated January 15, 2026, and published on February 16, 2026, Omamalin is now a certified "procurement ambassador," authorized to professionalize Bids and Awards Committees (BAC) and their support units across the country. His journey is not merely a personal achievement but a testament to the rigorous standards required to steward public funds in a new era of transparency.

For Omamalin, procurement is far more than a bureaucratic hurdle; it is the heartbeat of public service. In his application to the GPPB-TSO, he cited a guiding principle from fellow trainer Andy Matula: “Good governance starts with good procurement”. This philosophy is backed by hard data. Approximately 60% of government expenditures involve procurement, meaning the management of these processes directly dictates how effectively a state university or a local government can deliver essential services. Whether in healthcare, infrastructure, or education, Omamalin views "doing procurement right" as a concrete way to uphold human rights. “Procurement is by the people and for the people. Done well, it means safe public infrastructure, quality public goods, and efficient, timely services,” Omamalin asserts. As a millennial public servant, he brings a forward-looking perspective, aiming to infuse the traditional procurement landscape with innovation, zeal, and a genuine commitment to public welfare.

The path to becoming a GPPB-Recognized Trainer is a grueling, multi-stage recruitment process designed to filter for only competent, ethical practitioners. From an initial pool of over 500 applicants from across the Philippines, only 77 individuals successfully reached the finish line – Omamalin among them.

The journey began on July 7, 2025, with a formal call for applications from the GPPB Technical Support Office (GPPB-TSO). On July 11, 2025, Omamalin submitted his application, highlighting over a decade of experience as a University Accountant and his multi-faceted roles at SLSU. By August 5, 2025, he was one of 300 shortlisted candidates to undergo a panel interview, of which only 226 passed. From August 13–18, 2025, following a 3-day technical training on the NGPA, Omamalin faced a 2-hour, time-pressured examination comprising 44 essays and 10 multiple-choice questions, with only 128 applicants surviving the 140-point technical assessment. The fourth stage, held from September 3–5, 2025, involved a "Skills and Values Formation Training-Workshop" in Quezon City, featuring the high-stakes Revalida.

During the Revalida—an oral examination where situational questions are drawn by lot—Omamalin faced a daunting scenario. He was asked to recommend a procurement modality for a city government seeking a "first-of-its-kind" smart traffic management system but lacking complete technical specifications. Facing lead evaluator DILG Undersecretary Atty. Omar Alexander V. Romero, Omamalin identified the solution: “competitive dialogue”. Despite the novelty of this modality under RA 12009 and the lack of existing precedents to cite, his preparation and 15-minute last-minute review allowed him to expound on the topic with clarity. This moment was a humbling reminder that the public sector is dynamic and requires a mindset of continuous learning—or, as he describes it, being "like an empty cup, receptive to new learning".

The final hurdle of the accreditation program was a live performance assessment. On October 8, 2025, Omamalin served as a resource person for the Department of Justice (DOJ) In-House Procurement Training. He delivered a comprehensive session on the Key Provisions of the NGPA to a diverse audience, including participants from the DOJ Central and Regional Offices, the Bureau of Corrections, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO). His performance was rigorously evaluated based on adherence to the Facilitation Guide, clarity and delivery of presentation, responsiveness in the open forum or Q&A, audience engagement and impact, and professionalism. His success in this real-world setting solidified his standing as capable of translating complex law into actionable knowledge.

Omamalin’s authority on procurement is built on a decade of "boots-on-the-ground" experience. Before his current role as Supervising Administrative Officer for Administration at SLSU, he served as the University Accountant for Leyte Normal University. Today, he wears multiple hats, giving him a 360-degree view of the procurement cycle: Director for University Planning and Development, Vice-Chairperson of the BAC for Goods and Services, Member of the BAC for Infrastructure, and Chairperson of the Committee on Anti-Red Tape (CART). His background in accounting, budgeting, and auditing allows him to navigate the "Strategic Procurement Planning and Budgeting Linkage" with confidence.

Omamalin is not just a trainer; he is an advocate for systemic change. During his application, he identified critical gaps in the current national procurement system that he hopes to address through the GPPB-TSO. One primary concern is the lack of access to free capacity-building training for agencies with limited fiscal space. He advocates for "guaranteed continuing professional education" to ensure that the skills of BAC members across the country—especially in multi-campus state universities—keep pace with the evolving demands of the law. Additionally, he highlights the need for integrated systems that link procurement to payment, which would expedite processes and help curb corruption.

With the official recognition now secured, Leo Omamalin is ready to bring his expertise back home to Southern Leyte. His first major initiative will be the Campus Procurement Caravan, a localized training program across all six SLSU campuses. This caravan is designed to address the unique realities and contexts of each campus, ensuring that the NGPA's principles are not just understood but effectively implemented. By bridging the gap between national policy and local practice, Omamalin is helping build a community of practitioners who see procurement not as a set of rules to follow, but as a tool for nation-building. Southern Leyte State University, and indeed the entire Eastern Visayas region, now has a dedicated ambassador for integrity and efficiency in public service.