The Department of Budget and Management, in collaboration with learning stakeholders, launched on Monday, Sept 29, an open data initiative aimed at strengthening transparency and accessibility of information in the education sector.
DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman and DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara led the rollout of ‘Project Bukas’ at Parañaque National High School on September 29, 2025. The initiative seeks to make data on schools, students, and education outcomes available to the public through an online platform.
Envisioned by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. himself to empower stakeholders of the education sector for a proof-based or data-driven campaign against corruption, ‘Project Bukas’ will be the broadened version of the government’s Freedom of Information policy, which allows citizens access to information from public offices with exceptions on national security and personal privacy.
‘As Chairperson of the Philippine Open Government Partnership, whose mission is to promote transparency and accountability in government, I am very pleased to see DepEd embarking on this open data initiative,’ Pangandaman said. She emphasized that the project is designed to provide stakeholders with reliable data to guide evidence-based decision-making in education.
The centerpiece of the program is the Paaralang Bukas Dashboard, an online platform where the public can access information on enrollment, test results, internet connectivity, teaching personnel, and the condition of school facilities. The dashboard also covers utilities such as water and electricity, giving parents, teachers, local governments, and communities a clearer picture of gaps and areas for improvement.
According to Sec. Amenah Pangandaman, the initiative will help address long-standing questions on education funding and outcomes.
‘Project Bukas marks a pivotal step not only in finding answers to these fundamental questions but, more importantly, in providing a learning environment built on trust, evidence-based decisions, and a strong collective resolve within the community,’ she said.
For his part, Angara stressed that DepEd sees the project as a collaborative effort. ‘We want to work hand in hand with our partners from both the public and private sectors. This is a shared responsibility, and we cannot move forward without your support,’ he said during the launch.
The project is supported by private institutions, civil society groups, research organizations, and the Evidence for Education (E4E) coalition. This multi-sectoral approach, officials said, reflects the government’s whole-of-nation and whole-of-government strategy to ensure accountability in education spending.
Angara highlighted the DBM’s role in promoting open governance, citing the earlier launch of the Open Government Initiative in 2022. He noted that transparency in budget allocation and spending is crucial as DepEd aims to secure the largest share of the national budget in 2026.
The DepEd chief added that the system would help minimize anomalies and irregularities in school projects. ‘Through Project Bukas, stakeholders can now directly see the condition of school facilities. This transparency will prevent misuse of funds and encourage both private and local government support,’ Angara said.
Pangandaman pointed out that the initiative complements existing DBM transparency tools such as the Budget Analytics Dashboard for real-time fund monitoring, Project DIME, which uses satellite and geo-tagging to track DepEd projects, and the PhilGEPS Open Data platform to ensure transparency in procurement.
She also announced that the DBM has recommended a ?1.224-trillion budget for education in 2026, the highest allocation in Philippine history. The figure represents 4 percent of the country’s GDP, in line with UNESCO’s recommendation for education spending.
‘As you can see, we have done everything that we can to ensure that Education remains the top priority in the National Budget. This is for our children and the generations to come,’ Pangandaman said, adding that Project Bukas embodies the essence of open government-transparency that empowers communities.