DBM PRESS RELEASE

Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary and Philippine Open Government Partnership (PH-OGP) Chairperson Amenah F. Pangandaman led the successful launch of OGPinas!, a national advocacy campaign on open government, in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) today, January 24, coinciding with the 5th BARMM Founding Anniversary week.

Now in its second year, OGPinas! aims to raise awareness about the PH-OGP, especially at  the  local  level;  provide  avenues  and  more  channels  of  communication  for government-civil society partnerships; and ultimately, strengthen public participation in policy-making and governance in the country.

“Hindi lamang po dahil ako ay isang Mindanaoan ngunit dahil na rin sa aking mga personal na karanasan at pakikisalamuha sa ating mga kapatid dito sa BARMM, alam ko pong napakalaki ng ating pagpapahalaga sa good governance,” Secretary Pangandaman told the open government champions in attendance at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex in Cotabato City.

Showing  the  Bangsamoro  Government’s  full  support  and commitment to the open government cause, BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim, Ministry of Basic, Higher,  and  Technical  Education  Minister  and  Intergovernmental  Relations  Body Co-Chair Mohagher Iqbal, Ministry of Finance, and Budget and Management Minister Ubaida Pacasem, Ministry of the Interior and Local Government Minister Sha Elijah Dumama-Alba, Cotabato City Mayor Mohammad Ali “Bruce” Matabalao, together with participants from different sectors of society were also present at the event. These include the development partners of BARMM and members of the Non-Government Sector represented by Mr. Zalave Dinas of the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society and Executive Director Rhadzni Taalim of the Bangsamoro Development Agency.

“As we launch the national government’s OGPinas!, let us all renew our commitment to promoting  transparency  and  accountability  to  empower  the  Bangsamoro  people,” BARMM Chief Minister Ebrahim said.

True to her commitment to empowering her fellow Mindanaoans, the Budget Secretary likewise addressed around 700 local budget officers and Public Financial Management (PFM) practitioners from various provinces across Region XII for the PFM Competency Program for Local Government Units held in General Santos City earlier today.

Secretary  Pangandaman  was  joined  by  Undersecretaries  Wilford  Will L. Wong and Margaux V. Salcedo, Assistant Secretary Rolando U. Toledo, RO XII Director Akmad J. Usman,  and  Advocacy,  Communications  and  Training  Service  Director  Diana  C. Camacho-Mercado in the Cotabato leg of OGPinas!, which was held in collaboration with DBM Regional Office XII and the Bangsamoro Government.

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