Spanish
Santo Domingo.- The Chamber of Deputies approved this Wednesday, in second reading, the bill that modifies the regime of Public Purchases and Contracting of the country, an initiative that seeks to modernize the system and strengthen the mechanisms of transparency in the management of the State. The legislative piece now goes to the Senate of the Republic for its analysis and eventual approval.
The new legislation aims to establish an updated legal framework for public procurement, incorporating principles of efficiency, sustainability, accountability, and the use of technologies. Its central purpose is to optimize the use of public funds and ensure respect for the fundamental rights of citizens, as stated in the considerations of the project, which received the support of the majority parties during the plenary session.
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Among the most relevant aspects of the project, it is highlighted that its application will be mandatory for all State bodies: central administration, decentralized entities, local governments, Judiciary, Legislative Power, constitutional bodies, public companies and trusts, giving each power of the State the regulatory faculty. Furthermore, the creation of the National Public Procurement System is contemplated, under the direction of the General Directorate of Public Procurement (DGCP), attached to the Ministry of Finance. This entity will have regulatory, supervisory, and sanctioning attributions, with the power to issue regulations, monitor processes, suspend procurement in case of irregularities, and manage the State's Supplier Registry. In addition, each contracting institution must have a Contracting Committee and an Operational Unit, responsible for planning and executing the procedures, with professionalized personnel and in constant training. With this approval in second reading, the Chamber of Deputies, according to its president, Alfredo Pacheco, takes a firm step towards a more transparent, fair and efficient public procurement system, aligned with the best international practices and the commitments made in treaties such as DR-CAFTA. During Wednesday's session, several legislative initiatives were also approved in first reading, including the Family Property bill, submitted by the Executive Branch; the bill on national prevention and response in the absence of vulnerable persons, known as Amber Alert; the bill on Oversight and Control of the National Congress, authored by Senator Félix Bautista; and the bill amending Law No. 137-03, on Illicit Trafficking of Migrants and Trafficking in Persons.
