OGPinas! in Baguio brings more advocates, partners for good governance
Following the success of
OGPinas! in Quezon City and Iloilo City, the Department of Budget and
Management (DBM), in collaboration with the Department of the
Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA),
engaged more than 200 participants from different civil society sectors for the
third leg of its open government national advocacy campaign to strengthen
public participation held in Baguio City on November 7, 2023.
Opening all levels of
government
In her video message, DBM
Secretary and Philippine Open Government (PH-OGP) Chair Amenah F. Pangandaman
noted that the national advocacy campaign intends to bring PH-OGP to the local
level: “Gusto po sana natin na hindi lamang po sa National Level, kundi pati na
rin sa bawat local government maisulong ang adbokasiyang ito…dahil ito ang
tulay natin upang makapagbigay ng serbisyong tunay na tumutugon sa
pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan.”
Sharing an inspiring welcome
message, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong lauded OGPinas! for being a
platform for collaboration, unity, and collective action: “It is a call for
every citizen, every community, and every political leader to take a stand and
be a force for positive change.”
The City Mayor also urged
participants to speak up against corruption and demand the highest ethical
standards from political leaders for “a government that truly serves the
people…and leaving a legacy for the next generations.” Mayor Magalong is one of
the convenors of the Mayors for Good Governance, launched in August 2023 with
more than 100 mayors across the country committing to upholding the principles
of good governance.
In his keynote message, DILG
Undersecretary and PH-OGP Steering Committee Member Marlo L. Iringan encouraged
local governments to engage in OGP initiatives: “The OGPinas! campaign will be
our vehicle for transformation and it shall be the key to unlocking widespread
awareness and understanding for people to learn about the PH-OGP and its
transformative effect on local governance.”
Meanwhile, Department of
Environment and Natural Resources Undersecretary Jonas R. Leones underscored
the alignment and relevance of climate action and environmental governance in
pursuing open government initiatives. “The OGP will enable us to optimize the
full potential of human capital in order to safeguard our natural habitat. The
protection of our ecosystems to support economic growth and inclusive development
is possible through the support of visionary leadership and open government,”
Usec. Leones said through a recorded message.
Opening spaces for
conversation and collaboration
During the panel discussion
moderated by Regional Director Helen R. Tibaldo of the PIA Cordillera
Administrative Region (CAR), DBM Assistant Secretary and PH-OGP Head
Secretariat Rolando U. Toledo cited the continuing gains of the PH-OGP such as
the internationally recognized Citizen Participatory Audit Program, the Seal of
Good Local Governance, and the institutionalization of the PH-OGP which
expanded the number of the Steering Committee members for better sectoral
representation.
DILG Usec. Iringan also
shared the past and ongoing initiatives of the government toward open governance,
including the collaboration of the academe and the government in the monitoring
of the implementation of local projects, and the development of participatory
governance metrics to gauge the quality of participation of Civil Society
Organizations (CSOs) and Non-Governmental Organizations. He also highlighted
that around 25,000 members of CSOs all over the country were trained under the
Support to Local Governance Program.
Supplementing this, PH-OGP
Steering Committee Member and De La Salle Institute of Governance Lead Policy
Research Specialist Ian Jayson R. Hecita encouraged CSOs to continue optimizing
open government platforms and voicing out grievances through the PH-OGP
mechanisms. He also emphasized the important role of universities as knowledge
hubs and information intermediaries for open government.
In addition, student leaders
from State Universities and Colleges such as the Ifugao State University,
Kalinga State University, Abra State Institute of Sciences and Technology, and
Apayao State College expressed their gratitude for including the youth in the
open government dialogue.
The OGPinas! Baguio Luzon Leg A was spearheaded by DBM RO - CAR, in collaboration with regional counterparts from DILG and PIA. Also present at the event were DBM CAR Regional Director Irene B. Gahid and Assistant Regional Director Marie Christine D. Andaya, Region I Director Ria V. Bansigan, Region II Acting Assistant Regional Director Francis C. Bautista, Region III Acting Director Rosalie C. Abesamis; DILG Assistant Secretary Francisco R. Cruz, CAR Regional Director Araceli A. San Jose and Assistant Regional Director Ruperto B. Maribbay Jr., Region I Director Jonathan Paul M. Leusen Jr. and Assistant Regional Director Paulino G. Lalata Jr., Region II Director Agnes A. De Leon, Region III Director Anthony C. Nuyda; and DENR CAR Assistant Regional Director Benjamin A. Ventura. (DBM/PIA-Caraga)
