BY AMENAH F. PANGANDAMAN, DBM SEC
BEYOND BUDGET
Assalamu alaikum wa Raḥmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
Today marks a milestone in our country’s journey toward more transparent, accountable, and inclusive governance, as we hold the media launch for the Open Government Partnership Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting (OGP APRM). To be held from Feb. 5 to 7 at Grand Hyatt, Bonifacio Global City (BGC), with side events at the University of the Philippines–BGC Campus, the OGP APRM affirms our nation’s leadership in championing open governance in the global stage.
The OGP and PH successes
The OGP is a multilateral initiative that aims to secure concrete commitments from governments worldwide to promote transparency, empower citizens, fight corruption, and harness new technologies to strengthen governance. Since its establishment in 2011, with the Philippines as one of the eight founding members, the OGP membership has grown to more than 75 countries and 150 local governments working alongside thousands of civil society organizations (CSOs) to co-create action plans to enhance transparency, accountability, and public participation in government.
Since President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (PBBM) appointed me to lead the DBM, aligning our national fiscal policies with the principles of open government has been one of our foremost advocacies.
Our progress has been remarkable. Under PBBM’s leadership, Executive Order No. 31, s. 2023, institutionalized the PH-OGP. In fact, the OGP is a key strategy in our Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, with our 6th National Action Plan as the first-ever medium-term plan to ensure the sustainability of our commitments. With the passage of the New Government Procurement Act, procurement is made more transparent through open contracting wherein stakeholders, including CSOs, will have access to procurement information and proceedings. It also requires bidders to disclose beneficial ownership information to prevent collusion in public procurement. These developments were showcased at the 2023 OGP Global Summit in Tallinn, Estonia, where the Philippines was praised as “a country with open government in its DNA.” This recognition highlights the strides we’ve made in fostering transparency and accountability.
In 2024, we have cemented our position as a global leader in budget transparency by ranking number one in the 2023 Open Budget Survey, not only in Southeast Asia, but the whole of Asia, and 15th worldwide.
Further, we have expanded our advocacy campaign OGPinas! nationwide, directly engaging with more than 4,000 participants in nine provinces. Inspired by this activity, four of our local government units (LGUs) were selected as new members of the OGP Local Program in April 2024 — Tagbilaran, Larena, Quezon City, and Baguio — joining South Cotabato and Borongan, which were accepted into the program in 2018 and 2020, respectively. With six LGUs as partners in open governance, I am happy to note that they hail from and complete the country’s main islands — Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. I am also proud, as the PH-OGP chairperson, to represent our country as a recently elected member of the OGP Steering Committee.
OGP APRM
This February, we at the PH-OGP are excited to host the OGP APRM, which will bring together high-level representatives of government, civil society leaders, and policy-makers from across the region, as well as global and regional partners to exchange experiences, best practices, and progress on open government initiatives and implementation on key issues.
The regional meeting will feature high-level and ministerial sessions, interactive breakout sessions, networking opportunities, and side events, to discuss progress on key open government initiatives and explore ways to tackle the region’s most important issues. Topics include anti-corruption and rule of law, civic space, climate, digital governance, inclusive public participation, mainstreaming and localization of open government, among others.
I am certain that our selection as host reflects the international community’s recognition of the Philippines’ leadership in promoting open governance. The regional meeting will serve as a platform to showcase our achievements, learn from the experiences of our neighbors, and foster collaborative solutions to challenges in governance.
2025 OGP Fun Run
To kick-start our hosting, we have partnered with the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), to organize the OGP Fun Run 2025 happening at the Quirino Grandstand on Jan. 26.
More than encouraging physical activity, the Fun Run symbolizes our collective journey toward more transparent, accountable, and participatory government. It provides an opportunity for citizens to engage with the government, learn about our initiatives, and contribute to meaningful dialogue on governance.
Proceeds from the Fun Run will support PRC’s lifesaving programs and projects, adding a humanitarian dimension to our advocacy for good governance. Participants may choose from three kilometer, five kilometer, and 10 kilometer race categories, with registration accessible through the social media pages of DBM, MMDA, and PRC. I hope you and your family will join this activity.
Beyond budget, the Philippines' active participation in the Open Government Partnership underscores our unwavering commitment to transparency, inclusivity, and participatory governance. Through initiatives such as our hosting of the 2025 OGP APRM and the Fun Run, we continue to lead by example, demonstrating that open governance is not merely an aspiration but a tangible reality in our Bagong Pilipinas.
(Amenah F. Pangandaman is the Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management.)
