His Excellency, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.—the driving force behind the institutionalization of Open Government Partnership (OGP) in the Philippines; 

Archbishop Charles John Brown and members of the Diplomatic Corps; 

Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo;  

Speaker of the House, Martin G. Romualdez; 

Fellow ministers from around the world and colleagues in the Philippine Government; 

Champions of open government in civil society and distinguished guests from around the world; 

Magandang umaga! Good morning! Mabuhay! 

Assalamu alaikum wa Raḥmatullahi wa Barakatuh.   

Welcome to the 2025 OGP Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting! We are so honored to have you all at this gathering of visionaries, reformers, and changemakers who believe in and fight for a world where transparency is the norm, accountability is a commitment, and citizen participation is a right, not a privilege. 

I started my term as part of the OGP Steering Committee, representing the Philippines, just last October. So I can't believe we are hosting this monumental event in just a little over three months since joining the SteerCom! But we are grateful and excited because seeing all of you here, I know we are off to a good start in making the message of Open Government reverberate not just in our country but across the Asia-Pacific Region and beyond!  

We are also very privileged today to welcome our incoming OGP Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Aidan Eyakuze. This is historical because it is his very first regional meeting! Thank you, Sir! This marks the beginning of a new era in Open Government! 

Aidan, we have our work cut out for us but we stand ready to push the Open Government agenda alongside you, especially here in the Asia-Pacific. 

Speaking of which, we have a lot to aspire for in terms of the Open Government Challenge. In the Philippines, we are proud to share that based on the latest Open Budget Survey, the Philippines ranked No. 1 in Asia in Fiscal Transparency.  

We have also enacted the New Government Procurement Act which has been hailed as the biggest anti-corruption measure in the country’s recent history, as it introduces open contracting, disclosure of beneficial ownership information, and public participation at all levels of the procurement process, in sync with Open Government values. 

I am particularly impressed with our very own Procurement Service for taking our anti-corruption efforts a step further through their submission of an ambitious commitment in the OpenGov Challenge. 

I likewise commend the local governments of Baguio and Larena for also taking on the challenge. Sana po ay dumami pa kayo! 

At the same time, we are eager to listen and learn as well from the OGP journey of Georgia, Armenia, Australia, Indonesia, Mongolia, and Papua New Guinea, who all developed platforms for citizens to better understand the government budgets and processes, and report concerns about public services, among other achievements towards transparency and accountability.  

In terms of regional commitments, we look forward to the Republic of Korea opening and expanding administrative appeals, Sri Lanka and the Kyrgyz Republic strengthening their Right to Information frameworks, and New Zealand implementing its algorithm charter. 

Finally, we proudly welcome our two newest members, Maldives and Timor Leste! Thank you for joining the Partnership and recognizing the OGP values as the cornerstone of democracy. 

On a side note, may I just share that in the spirit of inclusivity and sustainability, for your welcome kits, we tapped Persons Deprived of Liberty in Quezon City—a local government unit that just last year became a member of the OGP Local Program—as well as our artisans in the province of Bulacan to repurpose some 2,800 square feet of used tarpaulins into tote bags that you have right now. Inside those tote bags is the Auro Chocolate, our internationally acclaimed chocolate brand, which works directly with local farmers. We also exerted our best effort to make this event paperless! Please explore our mobile application to learn more and connect with fellow Open Government champions. 

I hope you are all as excited as we are to join the conversation, raise ambitions for our peoples, and strengthen our collaborations.  

In Tagalog, our native tongue, the word open translates to “bukás.” And tomorrow or the future translates to “bukas.” So remember: let us be “bukas” for a bright “bukas.” Let's all be open for a bright future for all.  

Now, may I present a short video on our OGP journey in the Philippines. We hit the ground running as a founding member in 2011 and as you will see, we have been working tirelessly to inculcate Open Government values in our country. 

As Sanjay Pradhan said, Open Government is in the Philippines’ DNA. We hope that our journey of OGP story will inspire others to take the same path, or better yet, improve on what we have already achieved. 

Once again, welcome to the Philippines, dear Partners for Prosperity!  Mabuhay!  

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

END 

To my colleagues in the Philippine Government, especially in the Procurement Service - Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM); 

Representatives from development organizations, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); 

Civil society leaders, global and regional partners, and policymakers from across Asia and the Pacific;  

Our friends from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Minister of Finance, and Budget and Management, Atty. Ubaida C. Pacasem;  

Thank you for coming! Good morning.  

Assalamu alaikum wa Raḥmatullahi wa Barakatuh. 

Finally, the moment that we have been waiting for is here and I am honored to say—welcome to the 2025 Open Government Partnership (OGP) Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting and this side event on Transparency in Public Procurement. 

There will be many discussions at the meeting. We have around 35 side events, 20 interactive breakout sessions, and three high-level roundtable and plenary discussions, to be joined by more than a thousand participants from 43 countries. 

But this one especially means a lot to me because as some of you know, procurement reform was number one on my agenda from my very first day as Budget and Management Secretary and to be able to present our New Government Procurement Act (NGPA) now to the world as one of the best practices in procurement reform really makes me proud—proud as a public servant and proud as a Filipino. 

As we all know, procurement is one of the governance aspects most prone to corruption. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reported that almost 50 percenti of the world’s annual government spending goes to public procurement projects, making it an easy and widely available conduit for corruption. Thus, enhancing transparency in procurement is the first line of defense against such schemes that threaten the integrity of our public procurement and our government.  

Today, I am proud to share that the Philippines has already made a mark in history with the signing of the NGPA by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. in July 2024—less than a year after I presented this as one of the reforms that the new administration was working on at the OGP Global Summit in Tallinn, Estonia, noting that the NGPA amends our 20-year-old Government Procurement Reform Act (GPRA).  

After passing the law, thanks to the hard work and collaboration of the DBM, Procurement Service-DBM, and the Government Procurement Policy Board-Technical Support Office (GPPB-TSO), we have already approved the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the NGPA, aptly hailed as the biggest anti-corruption measure in the country’s recent history.  

So now, allow me to present how the NGPA strengthens and modernizes the procurement system, enhances the participation of the civil society and the private sector at all stages of the procurement process, and combat corruption towards a more transparent, accountable, and efficient bureaucracy. 

Strengthening Systems 

Towards bureaucratic efficiency, the NGPA strengthens the country’s digital capabilities, allowing procuring entities to just “Add to Cart,” similar to e-commerce platforms such as Lazada, Shopee, or Amazon. 

Last December 2024, the PS-DBM officially launched the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System or the PhilGEPS’ eMarketplace which significantly reduces procurement timeline and costs and improves transparency and accountability.  

To streamline the whole process, the modernized PhilGEPS also includes electronic bidding and electronic payment facilities, allowing for an end-to-end electronic procurement process that improves the timely delivery of public services and budget utilization. 

Moreover, the digitalization of the procurement process provides an audit trail of electronic payments and transactions so that we can monitor irregularities. It also allows us to leverage data analytics and formulate evidence-based policies to guide and improve procurement planning. 

These advantages and benefits could be attested by our counterparts in South Korea and Indonesia, which also operate their respective electronic procurement systems, namely, the Korea ON-line E-Procurement System (​​KONEPS) and the E-Katalog. 

I am also happy to share that all these are reinforced by our various digitalization efforts. In October 2024, we endorsed to the President the Public Financial Management (PFM) Reforms Roadmap 2024-2028, our blueprint for modernizing and harmonizing our PFM system, including public procurement as one of the strategic focus areas. 

Enhancing Citizen Participation 

Our efforts to strengthen our systems through digitalization come alongside the need to enhance citizen participation in public procurement activities.  

To uphold participatory procurement and integrate feedback mechanisms, we will collaborate with our civil society organization (CSO) partners who will be invited as observers in procurement proceedings.  

Having independent oversight as an additional layer of protection ensures that public funds are safeguarded against unethical spending and corrupt practices.  

We will likewise ensure that all stakeholders have access to procurement information. 

This landmark reform promotes open contracting which enables disclosure of data and documents at all stages of procurement, from planning to contract implementation. Through this, we can say that we are truly at par with global best practices since open contracting is recommended by international bodies such as the European Commission, the World Bank, and the United Nations, among others.  

Moreover, we now require the beneficial ownership information of suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, contractors, and consultants, which will be accessible to the public through an online registry maintained by the GPPB. This will ultimately prevent and mitigate the risk of conflicts of interest and corruption.  

Closing 

In closing, true to the theme of this side event, transparency in public procurement is sustained by strengthening systems, enhancing citizen participation, and encouraging private sector engagement. These are vital for restoring public confidence in governance in issues of corruption. 

To this end, let us continue the discussion on strengthening the integrity of our respective public procurement systems. 

I am especially grateful for our speakers. Aside from the Philippines’ very own PS-DBM, we also learned from the representatives from South Korea’s Public Procurement Service (PPS), and Indonesia’s National Public Procurement Agency, more commonly known as LKPPii. We also heard ​from ​our OGP champions from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas or the Philippine Central Bank representing the government sector, WeSolve Foundation representing the civil society, and Toyota Motor Philippines representing the private sector. With these incredible speakers, the discussions today definitely gave us great insight on how to improve and best utilize procurement systems from a global perspective. 

As you know, the NGPA will only succeed through collaborative governance and a whole-of-society approach. So we must embrace this Partnership to build trust and demonstrate integrity in a nation where citizens can rely on the transparent, accountable, and efficient use of government resources geared towards a truly inclusive and sustainable economic transformation.  

Thank you again, and we look forward to seeing you at the other side events and our plenary discussions. 

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

- END - 

iPublic Sector Corruption 

iiIndonesia’s National Public Procurement Agency (Lembaga Kebijakan Pengadaan Barang/Jasa Pemerintah or LKPP) 

To our Executive Secretary, Honorable Lucas P. Bersamin; 

Excellencies; 

My esteemed colleagues in the Cabinet; 

Distinguished guests; 

To our fellow champions and advocates of open government and good governance from the Asia-Pacific and beyond, mabuhay! 

Thank you for flying all the way here to Manila for the 2025 OGP Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting! 

I am Budget and Management Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman, Chair of the Philippine Open Government Partnership, and we are all excited to welcome you to our beautiful country. 

I come from the Southern part of the Philippines, which is predominantly Muslim, so allow me to also greet you: 

Assalamu alaikum wa Raḥmatullahi wa Barakatuh.   

We have a lot in store this week! We have around 35 side events, 20 interactive breakout sessions, and three high-level roundtable and plenary discussions, to be joined by more than a thousand participants from 43 countries. 

But for tonight, PLEASE—sit back, relax, and enjoy the view at the Garden Pavilion of the Grand Hyatt Hotel here in Bonifacio Global City, a cosmopolitan city with a rich history spanning more than a century.   

But as we admire the view, let us also exchange views. Let us seize this opportunity to exchange valuable insights, explore new horizons, or simply get to know each other and how we share the same goal of pushing for transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in our own governments. 

Tonight, we are a united community dedicated to advancing our shared advocacy of open governance both on a national and global scale. 

And so let us raise our glasses to the spirit of collaboration and to the better governance which no other than our guest of honor can attest to.  

It is my privilege to introduce our dearest Executive Secretary, former Supreme Court Chief Justice, Honorable Lucas P. Bersamin, who will deliver the keynote speech this evening.  

Thank you.  

END 

To our esteemed host, Makati Business Club (MBC); 

Distinguished business leaders and members of the business community; 

My colleagues in the National Government;  

To all advocates and champions of open government and good governance;  

A pleasant morning to all.  

Assalamu alaikum wa Raḥmatullahi wa Barakatuh.    

First, I thank the MBC, a member of the Philippine Open Government Partnership (PH-OGP) Steering Committee for organizing this event on the sidelines of our OGP Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting 2025.  

By fostering dialogue between the government and the private sector on budget transparency, open governance, and policy reforms, you not only support our cause: you are our partners in our Agenda for Prosperity. Now, more than ever, we understand that true leadership is not defined by the position you hold but by your ability to empower people toward a shared goal of collaboration and good governance. 

Fiscal Transparency  

As the Chair of the Philippine Open Government Partnership (PH-OGP), the Department of Budget (DBM) has been keen on being an example of transparency and accountability. Our budget documents are uploaded as close to real-time as possible on our website and even laymanized to make this more accessible to the general public.   

This is why today, the Philippines is the most fiscally transparent country not just in Southeast Asia but in the entire Asia based on the latest Open Budget Survey (OBS) conducted by the International Budget Partnership—the only independent and fact-based international survey on open budgets—which recognized our timely and comprehensive publication of key budget documents, including pre-budget statement, proposed and enacted budgets, in-year and mid-year reports, and the People’s Budget series.   

FY 2025 National Budget  

Our commitment also stems from the understanding that having this information is crucial for the business sector as it allows you to identify growth opportunities, mitigate risks, and contribute to national development goals. With this in mind, let me discuss our priorities under the Fiscal Year 2025 National Budget. 

The 2025 National Budget amounts to Php 6.326 trillion, equivalent to roughly 22.0 percent of GDP. It is higher by 9.7 percent compared to last year’s budget and will propel economic and social transformation by prioritizing programs and projects aligned with the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028.  

The Social Services sector—which includes education, health, and social protection—received the highest budget allocation, with Php 2.030 trillion, or 32.1 percent of the total national budget. 

As mandated by the Philippine Constitution, education remains our top priority, with an allocation of Php 1.041 trillion or 16.5 percent of the national budget. The amount is well within the 15 to 20 percent range set by the UNESCO 2030 Education Framework for Action for education expenditures. We will also promote quality healthcare with some Php 274.4 billion and strengthen social protection with Php 283.7 billion. 

Infrastructure Development  

Meanwhile, the Economic Services sector received the second highest allocation, with Php 1.968 trillion, or 31.1 percent of the national budget. This allotment will also fund the Agriculture and Agrarian Reform sector with Php 247.79 billion to support the administration’s vision of making agriculture the primary source of our food security, although the bulk of the budget for the Economic sector will go to Infrastructure development, which also remains our top priority, that is within 5.0 to 6.0 percent of GDP allocated annually for infrastructure spending. 

For this year, some Php 1.644 trillion or 5.7 percent of the GDP will support the Build-Better-More Infrastructure Program, which will drive the development of road networks, bridges, railways, and other critical transport systems that will facilitate connectivity and economic activity across the country. 

We will also build social infrastructure, such as school buildings, hospitals and health centers, water supply, and irrigation systems, to help boost inclusive economic growth. 

Over the medium term, we will build 186 infrastructure flagship projects (IFPs) with estimated high returns on investments and sizable socioeconomic impact.  

Public-Private Partnerships 

To fund these critical infrastructure projects, we are leveraging innovative financing mechanisms, including strategic co-investments with the private sector through Public-Private Partnerships or PPPs.  

And I am happy to share that private sector participation is now made faster and easier with the new PPP Code.  

In fact, we have successfully awarded five (5) PPP airport projects in 2024, including the country’s main international airport—the Ninoy Aquino International Airport—and airports in Laguindingan, Dumaguete, Siargao, and Bohol.  

Moreover, we are developing the Luzon Economic Corridor—a transformative hub for commerce, industry, and logistics. This will help drive regional development and fuel economic growth. 

Climate Change Expenditures 

While all these point to a promising and thriving economy, we also recognize the importance of taking the green path toward a future-proof and sustainable economy.  

Hence, our climate change expenditures for FY 2025 will more than double to Php 1.156 trillion from Php 457.4 billion in 2024, the highest increase since we started tracking our climate expenditures since 2015. Among our top priorities will be investing in sustainable energy and climate-smart industries and services, which will substantially increase by over 2,000 percent as we build the foundations of a sustainable economy.  

Digital Transformation  

To position the Philippines as a prime investment destination, we are developing not just public infrastructure but also digital infrastructure. Hence, we have allocated Php 68.9 billion to support the government’s digital transformation.  

As reflected in the highest allocations of our national budget, we remain steadfast in our commitment to developing and protecting the capabilities of individuals and families, transforming production sectors to generate more quality jobs and produce competitive products, and fostering an enabling environment for inclusive growth.  

New Government Procurement Act 

To truly achieve our Agenda for Prosperity, the government introduced game-changing reforms, including the New Government Procurement Act (NGPA).  

As we all know, public procurement is one of the governance aspects most prone to corruption, not just in the Philippines but across the globe. So, even before joining the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), I knew how important it was to update our 20-year-old Government Procurement Reform Act. A World Bank report even states that better procurement strategies and policies could save 26 to 29 percent of a government’s total procurement spending.  

I am honored to share that the NGPA signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in July 2024 is now hailed as the biggest anti-corruption measure in the country’s recent history. And I am happy to share that the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the NGPA have already been approved just yesterday!  

Through the NGPA, we have launched an electronic Marketplace—an online platform where agencies may directly procure supplies and equipment from competent and reputable suppliers.  

In the true spirit of Open Government, we have likewise introduced open contracting; hence, data and documents will be disclosed at all stages of procurement, from planning to contract implementation.  

Not only that, we will also introduce a participatory procurement process where the public can serve as observers during procurement proceedings. 

We will also level the playing field by providing equal opportunities to our MSMEs, especially social enterprises and women-led businesses, to participate in procurement activities. 

Open Governance  

The business sector has always been a vital part of Open Government and is an indispensable partner in advancing transparent, accountable, and participatory governance worldwide. In the Philippines, MBC is actively building private sector support for the passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Law and local FOI ordinances.  

These are precisely what we need to expedite the passage and implementation of our reforms. After all, the public and private sectors may operate in different ways, but we share the same goal: to create more and better jobs, accelerate economic growth, and improve the lives of Filipinos.  

So, let me share with you the Government's accomplishments and initiatives rooted in the principles of Open Government Partnership (OGP). 

First, I am proud to share that for the first time, under the PBBM Administration, we have institutionalized the PH-OGP through Executive Order No. 31, s. 2023. This means that the Open Government values of transparency, accountability, citizen participation, and digitalization are now embedded in government programs and policies.  

As I mentioned earlier, we are now the most fiscally transparent country in the whole of Asia. In line with this, the DBM has been recognized by the Presidential Communications Office as a Champion of Information Integrity for our efforts to combat misinformation, disinformation, and fake news through our proactive publication on various platforms. 

We are also strengthening public participation in the budget process, ensuring that citizens have a meaningful role in shaping policies and driving the nation’s progress. In October 2023, we launched the OGPinas! Nationwide Advocacy Campaign, in collaboration with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA). To date, we have already engaged more than 4,000 Filipinos nationwide, involving them in our open government initiatives.  

We are also giving life to OGP through participatory budgeting. In February, we launched the Support and Assistance Fund to Participatory Budgeting in collaboration with the DILG. Through this, 75 municipalities will have access to safely managed and resilient water supply and sanitation services and climate-smart evacuation centers. And what is so special about this program is that the municipalities will be identified with the help of Civil Society Organizations, reflecting our commitment to remaining the number one country in Southeast Asia in terms of public participation. 

Through these reforms, we have been globally recognized as a leader in open governance, which has allowed us a seat in the OGP Global Steering Committee and given us an opportunity to host this Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting, which we hope will be the most dynamic, fruitful, insightful, and memorable OGP Regional Summit!   

Closing 

But as we all know, our journey in advancing good and open governance can only continue to succeed through a collaborative, whole-of-society approach.  

So let us work together to foster a Bagong Pilipinas that is open to collaboration, where the private sector plays a pivotal role in providing quality jobs, improving our economy, and achieving our Agenda for Prosperity. May our dialogue today pave the way for a more transparent, accountable, and inclusive government that we all aspire for.  

Thank you again to MBC. Mabuhay ang OGP!  

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

END