Good morning to all the advocates and champions of open government and good governance present here today, most especially to my fellow Philippine Open Government Partnership (PH-OGP) Steering Committee (SteerCom) members.   

Assalamu alaikum wa Raḥmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  

Four months ago, we held our last quarterly meeting in Manila, and now we are here in Pampanga to continuously fulfill our commitment to uphold the Open Government principles of transparency, accountability, citizen participation, co-creation, and inclusion.    

I am proud and grateful to affirm that within a short amount of time, we reached new heights and achieved significant milestones that have positively shaped our communities.

First of all, as you know, we can be very proud to have passed the New Government Procurement Act (NGPA), updating our 20-year-old procurement law.  

I was able to report at the OGP Leaders Roundtable on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly in September that this was signed into law last July, less than a year since we announced at the Open Government Partnership Global Summit in Tallinn, Estonia last year that we would pursue amendments to the Government Procurement Reform Act (GPRA).  

We consider this not only a milestone towards improving efficiency but an important anti-corruption measure as public procurement is one of the governance aspects most prone to corruption, especially since we allot 40 to 45 percent of our annual budget to procurement undertakings. This is just for the national government. Iba pa po ‘yung local government units, so that’s how important our procurement law is.   

It was especially noted at the OGP meeting in New York how the NGPA guarantees transparency through open contracting. Stakeholders will have access to procurement information and observers from the private sector and civil society will be invited to participate in all levels of procurement proceedings. 

The NGPA now also requires bidders to disclose beneficial ownership information to identify the ultimate owner and prevent collusion in public procurement. 

Let me also highlight that in August, a little less than a month after the enactment of this new law, we launched three innovative digital platforms to make government procurement more open, transparent, participatory, and efficient. These include the Procurement Observers’ Portal, the NGPA Microsite, and the Billy Bayong Chatbot. Through these tools, every Filipino is now empowered to monitor and engage with the government procurement process. In fact, in that portal, we are already working on the IRR. The law provided us six months to finish the IRR, but our technical staff, tatapusin po nila ‘yung IRR natin. Then, we’re going to post everything online. So we hope all our stakeholders, lahat ng partners, I hope you’ll have time to check it out para maipasok po natin ‘yung mga inputs ninyo doon sa ating IRR which is very important.  

These milestones bring to life my declaration during our 2nd quarter meeting—that public participation will be embedded at all levels of the procurement process. And I am proud to see this vision now unfolding.  

Aside from commending the NGPA at the OGP Leaders Roundtable in New York, I am also proud to share today that OGP CEO Sanjay Pradhan cited the Philippines' efforts in mainstreaming open government in its socioeconomic framework. Lagi po tayong special mention ni Sanjay sa kanyang mga speeches! 

It has not gone unnoticed that we have institutionalized OGP through an Executive Order and we even included OGP as a key strategy in our Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028. So, I would like to take this opportunity to thank our members and partners for all your work and our enthusiastic collaboration, which has reinforced the Philippines’ position as a global leader in open governance space! 

In October, we embarked on our new role of leading OGP in the region as a member of the OGP Global Steering Committee! The Philippines, represented by yours truly, started its term last October 1, and we already see the magnitude of the responsibility and the opportunity to elevate our efforts on a regional and even global scale. 

We will have a great opportunity to do just that as we host the OGP Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting this coming February 5 to 7, 2025. We will make this the most dynamic, fruitful, and memorable OGP Regional Summit ever! In Shaa Allah!    

I think a few days before the Summit, we will hold our first face-to-face Steering Committee meeting with the new members. 

Also last October, we launched our Public Financial Management (PFM) Reforms Roadmap 2024-2028, a comprehensive blueprint for the full digitalization of PFM processes and the harmonization of PFM policies across agencies. And I’m also happy during the crafting of this, with our PEFA Assessment, we included three major topics which are also important in our advocacy and our movement. First, climate change. Second, disaster. Third, of course, gender, which Ms. Araw is working on. More than the sectors that we have been representing for the past few years, we included other areas which we can also spearhead through Open Government Partnership.  

Ultimately, this roadmap will enable us to uphold the principles of transparency and accountability by putting digital transformation at the forefront of our reform agenda. This is key to achieving our goal of having an open government that delivers more efficient and responsive public services to the Filipino people. 

We will implement the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS), which will not only foster bureaucratic efficiency through the timely and efficient management of public funds across national government agencies and instrumentalities but will also eradicate corruption through digitalization. 

Finally, just two weeks ago, at the first-ever ministerial-level International Conference on Women, Peace, and Security (ICWPS), the PH-OGP convened notable women leaders from the Judiciary, civil society, and the Bangsamoro government for a panel discussion on the integration of the WPS Agenda into the open government framework. No less than my co-chair, Ms. Araw Chavez was part of the panel in this side-event which was a resounding success. This is a testament to our commitment to ensuring a transparent, accountable, and participative governance that leads to a peaceful and prosperous nation through gender-responsive approaches. At the same event, we gave our commitment to include the WPS Agenda in our OGP Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting next year.   

I’m sure that we are all looking forward to that and the other matters that we will be discussing today, including the PH-OGP Annual Accomplishment Report.  

So, let’s get going and make this meeting purposeful and productive. As we proceed with today’s agenda, let us keep in mind our shared aspiration for a truly open government—isang Bagong Pilipinas, kung saan ang gobyerno ay bukas at mapagkakatiwalaan at ang mga mamamayan ay pinakikinggan. 

Maraming salamat po. Wabillahi Tawfiq Wal Hidaya, Wasalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu. 

END 

To all my fellow public servants joining this year’s Government Quality Management Program (GQMP) Conference, good morning. 

Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. 

First, allow me to thank the Development Academy of the Philippines for organizing this significant event that provides a platform for experts, government officials, and public and private sector representatives to connect, share insights, and strategize for continuous public service improvement.  

Throughout the conference, we have shown that while we already deliver standardized and high-quality services to our citizens, we continuously seek to reach new heights to give the best services that our people desire and deserve.  

This conference plays a crucial role in achieving this goal. It taught us [that] to improve, we must look back on our journey to gain insights into the current issues and trends and appreciate the recent developments in quality management, performance improvement, and technology integration.  

Since its establishment in 2006, the GQMP has made significant strides in ensuring effective and efficient operations in government services. Specifically, 72.5 percent of agencies have adopted a Quality Management System (QMS) certifiable to the ISO 9001:2015 standard. We have also provided capacity-building grants to 201 beneficiary agencies, resulting in almost 12,500 trained government participants. We likewise conducted conferences, courses, surveys, and published manuals and materials on QMS and quality workplace standards. With these achievements, we can see our vision of enhancing public sector organizations’ services coming to fruition.  

Aside from this, we learned that we must embrace the present as an opportunity for growth and innovation. There’s no better time to engage in comprehensive discussions and learn from one another’s best practices than the present. So, I hope that the outstanding and innovative reforms shared by the 2024 Government Best Practice Recognition (GBPR) awardees inspired you to adopt what works best and transform that inspiration into actionable strategies appropriate to your communities. Congratulations on your well-deserved award! 

Finally, we must build a brighter future where our systems are sustained and tailored to meet the needs of a rapidly changing world.  

As Chairperson of the Government Quality Management Committee, I call on each of us to work together in implementing our program plan for the next two years. Let us ensure that improvements in public sector services translate to an actual and meaningful impact on the lives of Filipinos.  

We will launch a nationwide campaign focused on improving government quality to foster a quality-oriented and people-centered mindset. This will help us create a standard of quality service in government that all agencies will uphold—aligned with our vision of a Bagong Pilipinas where citizens can expect the best service at all times and at all levels of government.  

Moreover, our beneficiary agencies can expect continuous technical assistance in establishing and improving their QMS. Even better, we will ensure that their QMS implementation aligns with sector-specific international standards!  

For the local government units, we will pursue Integral Quality Management and/or province-wide QMS and service quality improvement using the design thinking approach. 

So, we have many plans for GQMP, but we also know that we have a long road ahead. Remember: the future of performance excellence in the public sector is our shared responsibility and requires our collective commitment. Together, let us build on our gains to move beyond traditional quality management strategies, elevate public service standards, and ensure that our efforts lead to meaningful outcomes for all Filipinos. 

Thank you very much. Mabuhay ang GQMP! Mabuhay ang Pilipino at ang Bagong Pilipinas! 

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

END 

Participants from the Intergovernmental Relations Body (IGRB) Joint Secretariat, organizers from the Support to Bangsamoro Transition (SUBATRA), ladies and gentlemen, good day to all of you.  

Assalamu alaikum wa Raḥmatullahi wa Barakatuh. 

Before anything else, Alhamdulillah, as we have almost reached the end of 2024! I would like to congratulate everyone on your achievements, but most especially on your hard work and dedication to ensuring that the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) remains a shining beacon of lasting peace and progress. 

Truly, our harmonious working relations in the past months have resulted in public-oriented policies that will surely have lasting benefits for BARMM.  

We successfully turned over our third Progress Report to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. during the sixth anniversary of the signing of the BOL last July—a solid testament to our commitment to supporting BARMM’s transition to autonomy. 

And at the same time, the National Government is investing further in the region's economic development. Hence, under our proposed FY 2025 national budget—which we hope will be passed on third and final reading by the Senate this month—we will continue to support BARMM with some Php 94.4 billion, 17 percent higher than its FY 2024 allocation.  

In relation to this and to ensure effective governance, we have consistently pursued capacity-building efforts through DBM’s Public Financial Management Competency Programs. Also, I would like to congratulate OPAPRU on the successful first-ever ministerial-level International Conference on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS), which the Philippines hosted last October. Here, we were able to discuss the mainstreaming of Gender and Development initiatives in the region. 

Truly, as the year draws to a close, we can be proud of the policies and programs we have successfully implemented. 

Indeed, BARMM is a shining example of achieving peace through dialogue and the empowerment of local communities. Alhamdulillah! 

Now, in seeking to ensure the continued success of BARMM, PBBM also instructed us to create an IGRB Manual of Operations. Following this directive, I hope that the program today will be fruitful in finalizing the Manual, to ensure the continuity of the process of resolving Intergovernmental Relations issues as the transition period ends after the first regular elections in the BARMM. 

Indeed, it is heartwarming to see that the whole world is not only watching but rooting for the success of BARRM—that is why we have to continue to work hard. 

Hence, I look forward to a productive IGRB year-end assessment, so we can continue to deliver quality and responsive public services to our Muslim brothers and sisters. Together, let us continue making history and working together for lasting peace, good governance, and genuine prosperity. Insha Allah! 

Mabuhay ang IGRB! Mabuhay ang Bagong BARMM at ang Bagong Pilipinas!  

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

END  

To Pampanga Vice Governor Lilia G. Pineda;     

PH-OGP Steering Committee members from the government and civil society;     

Our very own DBM Regional Office III, led by Director Rosalie C. Abesamis and Acting Assistant Director Gracela A. Ortiz;    

Our partners from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA);     

Our commitment holders, stakeholders, and participants,    

Mayap a gatpanapun, Pampanga!    

Assalamu alaikum wa Raḥmatullahi wa Barakatuh.    

It is a very special day for all of us Open Government advocates because today, November 15, we are conducting the 15th and final run for the year of OGPinas! here at the Culinary Capital of the Philippines!    

But I also know you are very famous for your vibrant and fabulous festivals—the Giant Lantern Festival, Sinukwan Festival, and Manyaman (Masarap) Festival and I even learned that Porac is celebrating the Binulu Festival today featuring indigenous cooking!  

But here in Clark, we are also celebrating! Because we have completed our OGPinas! which started in 2023 and we have engaged almost 4,000 stakeholders from national and local government units, civil society organizations, and even state universities and colleges!  

I am so proud to share napakadami na po nating nagawa para sa bukas na pamamahala.  

First of all, in June 2023, we achieved a major milestone in PH-OGP when, for the first time since its founding more than a decade ago, we institutionalized this movement through the signing of the Executive Order No. 31 by no less than our President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.   

Next, we brought the biggest delegation to the 2023 OGP Global Summit held in Tallinn, Estonia where the Philippines was lauded by no less than the Chief Executive Officer of OGP, Mr. Sanjay Pradhan, as "a country with open government in its DNA."  

In Tallinn, I also announced that we will work hard to amend the 20-year-old Government Procurement Reform Act, and I am proud to share that we did this in less than a year!  

Most importantly, we deeply embedded the principles of transparency and participative governance in our procurement law. With the President’s signing of the New Government Procurement Act (NGPA), the biggest anti-graft and corruption law in recent history, we have paved the way for a more efficient and incorruptible procurement system.     

This has been hailed by no less than the World Bank with this statement [and I quote], “The Philippines has taken a big step forward with the enactment of the NGPA, which strengthens the ability of CSOs to participate in public monitoring of procurement processes and contract implementation.”    

Another highlight of the NGPA is the Inclusive Procurement Program which aims to create opportunities for marginalized sectors, including women-led MSMEs, social enterprises, and startups. This landmark law aims to enhance participation and promote fairness in procurement activities while recognizing gender and ethnic equity, poverty reduction, and adherence to labor standards.  

For 2024, we introduced the Support and Assistance Fund to Participatory Budgeting. Through this, some 75 municipalities nationwide will have access to safely managed and resilient water supply and sanitation services. This also covers the construction of climate-smart evacuation centers. The OGP component of this is that civil society organizations themselves have helped identify the beneficiaries, two of which are from Region III1, namely the Municipality of Dinalungan in Aurora and Municipality of Nampicuan in Nueva Ecija.  

Kaya naman po, number one din po tayo sa Southeast Asia pagdating sa Public Participation ayon sa Open Budget Survey. Ibig sabihin, ang taumbayan, pati na mga Civil Society Organization ay kasama sa pagdedesisyon ng pamahalaan.   

Aside from participatory budgeting, we also ensured that we improved on budget transparency.   

Gaya ng lagi kong sinasabi, ang OGP po ay importante upang pagtibayin pa ang transparency at accountability ng ating gobyerno. And I am happy to report that this May, the Philippines ranked number 1 in budget transparency, not only in Southeast Asia but in all of Asia, based on the latest Open Budget Survey as well.  

Ibig sabihin, maaaring siyasatin ng publiko ang ating national budget. Higit pa diyan, sa pamamagitan ng ating People’s Budget series, mas naiintindihan ng mga Pilipino ang nakalaang pondo para sa mga programa at proyekto sa bawat sektor ng gobyerno.    

We also welcomed four LGUs from the Philippines to the OGP Local Program! These LGUs are Baguio City, Quezon City, Municipality of Larena in Siquijor, and Tagbilaran City, joining South Cotabato. Sa mga susunod na taon, sana po ay mas marami pa po ang mga Local Government Units na makasali rito at naniniwala po ako na kayang-kaya ring makipagsabayan ng Pampanga sa OGP Local Program!     

Last September, I attended the OGP Leaders Roundtable held on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York. I am proud to report that OGP CEO Sanjay Pradhan cited the Philippines as a shining example of OGP for mainstreaming open government in its socioeconomic framework. So I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the members and partners for all your hard work and our enthusiastic collaboration that has reinforced the Philippines as a global leader in the open governance space!  

We also hosted a side event at the very first ministerial-level International Conference on Women, Peace, and Security (ICWPS) two weeks ago wherein the PH-OGP convened notable women leaders for a panel discussion on the integration of the WPS Agenda into the open government framework. This is a testament to our commitment to ensuring a transparent, accountable, and participative governance that leads to a peaceful and prosperous nation through gender-responsive approaches.  

And last October, I started my term as a member of the OGP Global Steering Committee, and we embarked on our new role in leading OGP in the region. We also see the magnitude of the responsibility and the opportunity to elevate our efforts on a regional and even global scale.  

This coming February 2025, we will host the OGP Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting. Our preparations are now in full swing! I encourage all of you to share your OGP testimonies and success stories with us, so we can show the world what we are doing for a more open government in the country. Together, we can make this the most dynamic, fruitful, and memorable OGP Regional Summit. In Shaa Allah!   

Our commitment to advancing open government has yielded positive results, and it will continue to impact the lives of our fellow Filipinos.  

So we have a lot of good news for OGP, but we also still have a long road ahead. Let us continue to build on our gains as we pursue the sustainability of our commitments under our 6th PH-OGP National Action Plan.   

And since this is the last one for the year, let’s make this the best run of OGPinas!: speak up, push for accountability in our government, and create space for our fellow Filipinos to participate in our country’s governance.   

Sama-sama po tayo sa Bagong Pilipinas kung saan ang gobyerno ay bukas—bukas sa publiko, bukas sa kabataan, bukas sa kababaihan, bukas sa manggagawa, bukas sa sambayanan… bukas para sa magandang kinabukasan ng ating bayan!   

Kaya sama sama din po nating isigaw: OG… Pinas! (Isa pa, mas malakas! OG… Pinas!)   

Dakal pung salamat Pampanga!  

END    

¹ Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1, s. 2024