This was the statement today of Budget Secretary Amenah "Mina" Pangandaman, who is also the Chairperson of the Philippine Open Government Partnership (OGP) and a member of the global OGP Steering Committee, following the release on May 29, 2025 of Proclamation No. 916, which declares every third week of May as "Open Government Week".

 

"This further institutionalizes the Open Government Partnership," Sec. Mina Pangandaman noted. "It proves PBBM's strong commitment to strengthening democracy and establishing open, accountable, and participatory governance. Remember it was also PBBM who institutionalized the Philippine Open Government Partnership,” she added.  

 

In June 2023, the President also signed Executive Order No. 31, institutionalizing the PH-OGP as a multi-stakeholder partnership responsible for overseeing and implementing the country's commitment to the OGP.

 

Meanwhile, Proclamation No. 916 mandates the annual observance of Open Government Week in order to encourage collaboration between government agencies and civil society organizations towards creating policies aligned with the values and goals of Open Government. It also directs the DBM as Chair of the PH-OGP to lead the yearly observance and identify programs, activities, and projects for the celebration.

 

All agencies and instrumentalities of the National Government, including government-owned or -controlled corporations and state universities and colleges, are likewise directed, while all local government units, non-government organizations, as well as the private sector, are encouraged, to actively participate and render the necessary support and assistance to DBM for the effective implementation of the Proclamation.

 

"This shows the President's determination to apply a whole-of-society approach to having an open, transparent and accountable government," Sec. Mina added.

 

The Philippines is one of the founding members of OGP, a global movement that champions transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement through collaboration between the government and non-government stakeholders.

 

The PH-OGP successfully hosted OpenGovWeek 2025 last May 19-23, 2025 wherein the government and CSOs together pushed for an FOI law and the first ever economic dialogue between members of the Philippine economic teams and CSOs was held.