Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary and Chairman of the Philippine Open Government Partnership (PH-OGP), Amenah Pangandaman, emphasized the crucial role of the 6th National Action Plan (NAP) during a recent event in Cebu.
The plan, part of the broader OGPinas! initiative, seeks to foster collaboration between the government and civil society to institute meaningful reforms.
The Cebu conference gathered approximately 250 stakeholders from various sectors across Region 7, including over a hundred members from civil society organizations.
This year’s OGPinas! focused on underscoring the commitments outlined in the 6th PH-OGP NAP, particularly the enhancement of participatory governance quality in local government institutions under the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the expansion of transparency, accountability, and participatory governance in the extractive sector under the Department of Finance.
Pangandaman highlighted the NAP as a manifestation of the collective aspirations for an open government in the Philippines, aimed at improving the quality of life for Filipinos through better public service delivery.
“It encapsulates our hopes and dreams for an open government in the country and our intentions to provide a better life for our fellow Filipinos through improved public service delivery,” Pangandaman stated.
The event also featured contributions from the civil society sector, with Central Visayas Network of NGOs (Cenvisnet) Executive Director Lenbi Laborte showcasing various initiatives led by civil society in Central Visayas. This highlighted the active and vibrant participation of civil society in the region’s open government efforts.
Notable attendees included Cebu 3rd District Board Member John Ismael Borgonia, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan, along with DBM Undersecretaries, Assistant Secretaries, and regional directors, DILG Assistant Secretaries, and the DILG 7 Director, all of whom played a pivotal role in the event’s success and the ongoing efforts to enhance governance transparency and citizen participation in Cebu and across the Philippines. – CebuLifestyleChannel.ph