QuestionsQuestions (MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 180)
Executive Order (EO) No. 285 (July 25, 1987) created the NPO by merging the Government Printing Office and the relevant printing units of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).
EO 285 mandated NPO’s exclusive jurisdiction over: (a) printing, binding and distribution of all standard and accountable forms of national/provincial/city/municipal governments including government corporations; (b) printing of official ballots; and (c) printing of public documents such as the Official Gazette, General Appropriations Act, Philippine Reports, and PIA development information materials.
EO 378 amended EO 285 by removing the NPO’s exclusive jurisdiction over printing service requirements of government agencies and instrumentalities under conditions provided, except for election paraphernalia where NPO could share printing with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) subject to conditions and the discretion of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) consistent with law.
The NPO shall continue as the primary and main provider of printing services to national, provincial, city and municipal governments, agencies and instrumentalities (including government corporations), subject to qualifications in the circular.
Under Section 2, NPO has exclusive jurisdiction over printing accountable forms with money value and specialized accountable forms of the requisitioning office or agency.
All requisitions for printing such forms must be submitted to the NPO.
NPO must conduct a public bidding immediately, participated in by NPO-accredited private security printers only, and the award must follow the relevant procurement law, rules and regulations.
The printing must be under strict control and supervision of the NPO, with NPO representatives present together with representatives from the Commission on Audit (COA) and the requisitioning agency.
The NPO is the sole distributor of all forms printed by the accredited security printers (which it pays for the services).
All flats, cuts, and types used for the specific printing job must be surrendered to the requisitioning office or agency after completion.
Official ballots and other accountable election forms and paraphernalia shall be printed exclusively by the NPO and/or the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), under proper security measures provided by the COMELEC and other conditions prescribed by law.
NPO must promptly issue the corresponding certification so COMELEC may contract private printers as provided by law.
They may source outside the NPO provided that: (1) private printing is superior in quality and lower in cost; and (2) private providers are flexible in meeting the agency’s target completion time.
Agencies must adhere to the guidelines and safeguards prescribed by the Director General of the Philippine Information Agency.
Prior written waiver by the NPO must be secured by the requisitioning office before commencing the proper procedure in contracting private printers; if warranted, NPO issues the waiver promptly considering the agency’s target completion time.
Public documents such as the Official Gazette, General Appropriations Act, Philippine Reports, and PIA development information materials.
No. The NPO may accept other government printing jobs (including government publications) but not on an exclusive basis.
All executive issuances, orders, rules and regulations inconsistent with the circular are revoked, amended, or modified accordingly.
It takes effect upon publication in a newspaper of general circulation.