To De La Salle University (DLSU) Vice President for Research and Innovation, Dr. Raymond R. Tan; 

DLSU-La Salle Institute of Governance (LSIG) Director, Dr. Kiko Magno; 

Distinguished resource persons from State Universities and Colleges (SUCs); 

And to all our fellow champions of open government and good governance from the academe: 

Good afternoon! 

Assalamu alaikum wa Raḥmatullahi wa Barakatuh. 

First, allow me to express my heartfelt gratitude to DLSU-LSIG not just for organizing this event as part of this year’s Open Gov Week celebration, but also for your significant contributions as a member of the Philippine Open Government Partnership’s (PH-OGP) Steering Committee.  

The DLSU-LSIG has been instrumental in broadening the engagement of academic institutions in our open government journey and building their support for PH-OGP’s goal of creating data-driven and evidence-based initiatives. 

We hope that through your leadership, more SUCs and private learning institutions join this space as active co-creators and implementers of game-changing reforms towards more effective, transparent, and accountable governance in our country. 

With powerful tools at your disposal—instruction, research, extension, and analytical expertise—the academe has both the opportunity and the imperative to help shape the future of OGP in the Philippines.  

And so today, allow me to share three meaningful ways you can contribute to our Open Government Agenda. 

First, let us leverage our knowledge partnership to promote open governance principles. Through research, you can help us gain scientific evidence on the impact and effectiveness of our initiatives. These insights are vital—not only for the public, who deserve to know whether the PH-OGP is delivering on its commitments, but also for the Steering Committee, as they guide our decision-making and help us improve our practices. 

Beyond research, we must nurture our future leaders through educational platforms. Hence, I encourage you to integrate open governance into your teaching and open spaces for dialogue, as this will lay the groundwork for more ambitious and responsive reforms that we welcome, as these will ultimately uplift the lives of Filipinos, even and especially for generations to come. 

Second, let us co-create initiatives that bridge persistent gaps—between national and local governments, between policy and practice, and between grassroots communities and state institutions. The academe is home to a network of professionals, scholars, and advocates from different backgrounds. Leveraging this diversity, you can effectively act as connectors, facilitating collaboration and harmonization of efforts across various sectors. 

A shining example of this collaboration is evident in our OGPinas! Nationwide Advocacy Campaign, where the academe has been a consistent participant in all the fifteen (15) runs conducted across the country since its inception in 2023. 

We are grateful to all the schools and institutions that enabled student participation in OGPinas!, where they pledged their commitment to uphold the OGP values of transparency, accountability, and citizen participation. Indeed, your work has greatly helped us in bringing this movement closer to the people and the people closer to governance. 

Finally, let us shape data-driven policies and ensure that they reflect the needs and aspirations of our fellow citizens.  

As you know, we recently conducted a series of roundtable discussions on Freedom of Information (FOI) with various stakeholders. One of the sessions, led by the DLSU-LSIG, provided a platform for academic representatives to share data-driven insights on the value of embedding FOI within our educational system. They also proposed practical and concrete measures to strengthen and refine the draft FOI Bill.  

With your steadfast support, we are confident that our policies and reforms will evolve to be more inclusive, informed, and responsive—a powerful testament to the transformative impact of meaningful academic participation in governance. 

Building on this progress, I am happy that we are now convening once again to deepen our dialogue and advance our shared objectives. And just like our previous events, let's make this one just as productive and impactful! 

So, as we listen to our resource persons this afternoon, let us embrace trailblazing ideas, forge meaningful partnerships, and strengthen our collective efforts to build a more open and accountable government—a Bagong Pilipinas that works for and with the people. 

Maraming salamat po! Happy Open Gov Week! Mabuhay ang sektor ng akademya! 

Wabillahi Tawfiq Wal Hidaya, Wasalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu. 

END