Institutional Readiness for the Implementation of Republic Act 12009: The New Government Procurement Act Among State Universities and Colleges in Eastern Visayas

AUTHOR(S)

IVY B. ALIGAM

ABSTRACT

—— This study assessed the institutional readiness of State Universities and Colleges in Eastern Visayas for implementing Republic Act 12009, the New Government Procurement Act. Using a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design, the research surveyed 310 procurement stakeholders across five dimensions: compliance knowledge, transparency measures, procurement modes, ethics and conflict of interest, and efficiency and value. Results revealed moderate overall readiness (M=3.82), with ethics and conflict of interest scoring lowest (M=3.72). Training attendance showed significant positive correlations with all readiness dimensions (r=0.365 to 0.395, all p<0.01), while demographic variables demonstrated no significant relationships (Panela, 2025d). Primary challenges included training deficits (80.0%), resource constraints (74.2%), and regulatory complexity (66.1%). Qualitative analysis revealed three themes: training deficit as primary barrier, technological and infrastructure inadequacy constraining implementation, and transition anxiety from institutionalized practices under Republic Act 9184. The study found no significant differences in readiness across stakeholder groups (F=0.776, p=0.543) and weak nonsignificant correlations between respondent groups. These findings indicate that while moderate conceptual awareness exists, substantial gaps remain in operational capacity. A comprehensive capacity-building program was developed to address identified barriers through systematic training, infrastructure development, and change management strategies. Keywords — Institutional Readiness, Government Procurement, Republic Act 12009, Capacity Building, Higher Education, Procurement Reform