Magandang umaga po sa ating lahat. 

Assalamu alaikum wa Raḥmatullahi wa Barakatuh. 

It is my honor to welcome you to the 3rd Quarter Meeting of the Philippine Open Government Partnership (PH-OGP) Steering Committee. I am grateful to once again be in the company of our government partners, civil society representatives, and reform advocates who continue to champion transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in governance. 

The past months have brought significant milestones for open government.  

First of all, after over 14 years of Open Government in the Philippines, we now finally have an institutionalized OGP Week after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed Proclamation No. 916 last May. So from hereon, every third week of May, magiging busy po tayo because it is now called the Open Government Week, reaffirming our country’s strong commitment to openness and civic engagement.  

Inspired by the feedback at the very successful OGP Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting (APRM) that we hosted last February, during Open Gov Week 2025, we also hosted the first-ever dialogue between civil society and our Economic Team.  

We would like to thank the Development Budget Coordination Committee—which, I also chair—for their cooperation in allowing CSOs to give their input even prior to the setting of the macroeconomic targets for the nation. I would also like to thank our CSOs for actively participating. This has never been done before, so this is really a testament to our commitment to public participation even in the budget process. 

I would like to especially share with you that, following the suggestion at this Economic Dialogue to increase the budget for Education to at least 4 percent of GDP as recommended by UNESCO—while in fact the DBM had already been working on this even prior to this event—we pursued this target with even greater determination.  

And you will be pleased to know that in the FY 2026 National Expenditure Program, for the first time, we have almost met the 4 percent target—the highest budgetary appropriation for the Education sector ever, using a whole-of-government approach to nurture future-ready generations. Let us just now pray that Congress supports this, In shaa Allah! 

At Open Gov Week, there were also renewed calls for the passage of legislation strengthening our right to information. 

As an update, in June, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), through the Freedom of Information Program Management Office, re-launched the eFOI Portal—making access to government data faster and more efficient. This aligns with our continuing advocacy to pass the Right to Information (RTI) Bill. I am personally determined to see the passage of this bill, and I hope you will support me in advocating for it. Marami na rin pong Senators na willing to fight for this RTI Bill. Congratulations! 

Our Inspirational Gallery, which we first saw at the OGP APRM, has been reaching greater audiences. It has since been exhibited at the DBM Procurement Service, the Government Procurement Policy Board–Technical Support Office, the Quezon City Government, and even the Supreme Court! We hope that our inspo gallery is somehow able to bring OGP principles closer to citizens and public servants by showcasing real examples of participation and integrity in action. 

On June 2, 2025, we formally commenced the first phase of the 6th PH-OGP National Action Plan Refresh Process by engaging commitment holders through their Project Status Reports. This process not only ensures that our commitments remain relevant and impactful but also opens opportunities for new partners to advance reforms under our theme: institutionalizing open government through enhanced public participation and digital transformation. The reports have been shared with everyone here today, and your insights will be vital in elevating the ambition and impact of our commitments. 

We have also been fruitful with local initiatives. In Caraga, we gathered young leaders for “Kabataan Para sa Bukás na Pamahalaan and OGP Sports sa Rehiyon Trese: Bridging Athletics and Public Programs Through Open Government.” More than a celebration of sports, this event recognized that the values of transparency, accountability, and public participation are just as important in athletics as in any sector of public service delivery.  

Our student-athletes, together with agencies such as DepEd, DOH, DSWD, and LGUs, discussed how government programs on education, health, and well-being can empower the youth to become partners in governance. It is a reminder that open government principles can and must be applied in almost every aspect of governance—even on the playing field. 

In July, together with the DILG, we conducted a two-day workshop with regional focal points to strengthen capacities for the rollout of the OGP Localization Program—the first of its kind globally! And now, it is set to become a benchmark by other OGP member countries! I am also excited to share that it will be showcased at the upcoming 2025 OGP Global Summit in Spain this October.  

As you know, our nation is now in the middle of infrastructure investigations. In fact, the new Secretary of Public Works and Highways and I have been given 10 days—it is now Day 5—to investigate anomalous infrastructure projects. I am taking this as an opportunity to infuse more transparency and openness into the systems of the entire bureaucracy. 

Thankfully, on our part at the DBM, with OGP in our DNA, we have already been working on fixing the system, especially through digitalization, since my very first day stepping into my role as Secretary.  

Aside from procurement reform, another project that we have been working on since 2022 is Project DIME or the Digital Information for Monitoring and Evaluation. And so, on August 27, we were able to go live with the Flood Control Project components of Project DIME—DBM’s 6th NAP commitment—at the Tripa de Gallina Pumping Station in Pasay City. Indeed, this is a testament to how technology and data can drive transparency, accountability, and efficiency in infrastructure monitoring and implementation. 

Finally, we now also have the Budget ng Bayan Monitor, or the enhanced Agency Performance Report. The report contains assessments of the financial and physical performance of all government agencies from the previous year, as well as the timeliness and quality of their reports, so that we know if they are utilizing their budget well, kung ginagamit ba talaga nila nang tama ang mga pondong inilaan para sa mga proyektong hiningan nila ng budget. ​ 

Amidst all these, we look forward with anticipation to the OGP Global Summit in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain, this coming October, where more than 2,000 global leaders in governance and civil society will gather. It will be another opportunity for the Philippines to showcase our reforms, learn from international best practices, and reaffirm our place as a leader in open government in Asia and beyond. 

So let’s not drop the ball. Instead, let us work harder for transparency, accountability, and public participation. Let’s take this opportunity to once again deliberate on strategy development and action plan refresh, key resolutions, updates on the OGP Localization Program, and clarifying the roles of the Steering Committee in line with Executive Order No. 31, series of 2023. 

I encourage everyone to share insights openly and strengthen our collaboration. Together, let us continue building a Philippine OGP that serves as a true model of open, inclusive, and participatory governance—not only in Asia and the Pacific, but across the globe. 

Maraming salamat po, and I wish us all a productive meeting.  

Mabuhay ang Bukás na Pamahalaan!  

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

END