CLEARING HOUSES In the Central Office, initiatives are pursued to increase the level of efficiency and

better facilitate the procurement process such as the creation of Clearing Houses. Goods, works and
services requiring technical expertise are cleared by concerned technical offices pursuant to a
department issuance. Given the complex nature of most health goods, works, services and health
services specialization, clearing of specifications and scope of works is done by technical
offices/personnel to ensure comprehension of technical details, to limit duplication and ensure
complementation of efforts especially for contractual services, ensure conformity to DOH plans,
standards and maintenance and technical support requirements among others. This is practiced at the
Central Office and should be followed by the CHDs and DOH Hospitals. It will be most beneficial to the
procurement activities of CHDs and DOH Hospitals.

DPO 2006-1427 (Reference D) provides for the responsibilities of the Clearing Houses

established:

a. Review, approve, and issue certificate of clearance for supplies and equipment

specifications or repair and maintenance specifications or construction specifications as

well as TOR for consulting services;

b. Perform required industry testing based on industry standards before acceptance of goods

by Service/Program end-users;

c. Ensure that purchase of goods and services are within the technical standards and plan of

the DOH; and

d. Where expertise is needed, assist in the (a) preparation of Special Provisions and

Conditions for the bidding to be included in the bidding documents, and (b) inspection and

acceptance of the goods and services.

The Purchase Request is coursed through the appropriate technical clearing house

or unit in the DOH for the review and clearance of specifications of the goods to be

purchased. This is true in the case of non-common use supplies such as

pharmaceuticals, medical and dental supplies, laboratory supplies, medical and

dental equipment, information technology hardware and software. The

appropriate clearing house or unit may issue one Certificate of Clearance for all

drugs and medicines included in the Consolidated Annual Procurement Plan to

facilitate the approval of Purchase Request for such items