TRANSPARENCY is more than a policy. It is a pledge to make governance not only visible but accountable; not only accessible but truly responsive to the people it serves. In the Philippines, this promise comes to life through the Philippine Open Government Partnership (PH-OGP), a cornerstone of our administration’s resolve to make openness, participation, and integrity the hallmarks of public service.
From October 6 to 10, 2025, over 2,000 leaders, policymakers, and civil society champions from around the world gathered in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain, for the 2025 Open Government Partnership (OGP) Global Summit. This brought together nations united by the common goal to build a future where integrity anchors governance and citizens are genuine partners in progress.
Guided by this collective vision, the Philippine delegation, composed of officials from various government agencies, joined the OGP global community in reaffirming that transparency knows no borders-that good governance is strongest when it is shared, and most enduring when it remains open to all. Leading the delegation was Budget Secretary Amenah ‘Mina’ F. Pangandaman, who also serves as Chairperson of the PH-OGP.
One of the highlights was the Open Gov Awards, which recognized the most promising and impactful reforms submitted through the Open Gov Challenge, celebrating innovation and progress in open governance. The Philippine flag stood tall as we brought home six Open Gov Challenge Awards. Among these, the Procurement Service-Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) was recognized as the overall winner in both the Anti-Corruption Thematic Category and the Asia and Pacific Regional Category for its commitment to ‘Improve Data Availability, Interoperability, and Public Participation in Procurement.’
The Climate Change Commission also earned distinction in the Climate and Environment Thematic Category for its reform initiative to ‘Increase the Accessibility of Climate Finance Data.’ Meanwhile, the Presidential Communications Office-FOI Project Management Office received an Honorable Mention in the Access to Information Thematic Category for its project to ‘Co-Create a Framework to Implement Local Right to Information (RTI) Ordinances.’
Lastly, the Quezon City Government and People’s Council of Quezon City emerged as the Regional Winner in Asia-Pacific and the Overall Winner in the Civic Space Thematic Category for their initiative ‘Support Capacity Building for Civil Society to Participate in Governance.’
All these recognitions reflect the steady progress of our government and of PH-OGP’s work and clear direction toward meaningful reform. They show that the initiatives under our national action plan are making a tangible impact on government policy.
As we move toward a more open and transparent government, we are accelerating the digital transformation of our bureaucracy, harnessing technology to make public service more efficient, accountable, and citizen centered. Under the leadership of President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos Jr., the administration continues to leverage innovation to enhance bureaucratic efficiency and promote good governance. This ensures that the policies and reforms we implement are more responsive to the needs of the Filipino people.
In line with the administration’s objectives and shortly after the 2025 OGP Global Summit, Secretary Mina led the launch of the Procurement Service-DBM Modernized PhilGEPS Open Data Portal on October 21, 2025. The Open Data Portal provides access to relevant information on government procurement activities, such as the eMarketplace, Virtual Store, and eBidding Facility. Information about the government agencies involved, merchants, observers, bid notices, and awards is likewise accessible through the portal.
Once again, our Budget Secretary and PH-OGP Chairperson has demonstrated her firm commitment and eagerness to lead the government toward greater transparency. With the Open Data Portal in place, ordinary citizens are now empowered to take an active role in scrutinizing government procurement and the parties involved in the process, ensuring that every centavo of public funds is spent wisely and properly accounted for.
And that is where we are today. Gone are the days when we had to wait for many years before we could truly feel the impact of the reforms introduced. Today, we are not only witnessing these reforms unfold, we are also experiencing their tangible benefits firsthand. The initiatives that we once presented on the global stage are now taking shape in our everyday lives, driving progress and reaffirming our commitment to genuine, people-centered governance.
With the right leaders at the helm and the unwavering support of the Filipino people, we move forward-transforming transparency into action, participation into empowerment, and governance into genuine service for all. This is the vision of a Bagong Pilipinas-one built on openness, inclusivity, and lasting progress.