Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman on Wednesday lauded the institutionalization of open government in local government units (LGUs), saying it will ensure “better, faster, and more responsive” services to the people.

This, after Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla directed the LGUs to be “frontrunners” in promoting open government and ensure that its values are embedded in government policies and programs.

“We want open government to take root from the ground up. That is why I commend President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. and the DILG for all their efforts in pushing this forward. Ang tunay na pagbabago, nagsisimula po sa pakikilahok ng bawat isa, sa mga barangay, munisipyo, at bawat komunidad (Real change begins with the participation of everyone, in the villages, municipalities and every community),” Pangandaman, chairperson of the Philippine Open Government Partnership (PH-OGP) said in a statement.

“Implementing the principles of open government at the local level ensures that its benefits reach every Filipino, especially those in the regions. Thank you, DILG Secretary Remulla for supporting this cause. With this, we are fulfilling our promise to deliver better, faster, and more responsive services to our people.”

The DBM has partnered with the DILG and the PH-OGP Project Management Office (PMO) in promoting open government among LGUs through initiatives such as the OGPinas! nationwide advocacy campaign and Dagyaw town halls.

The OGPinas! campaign raises awareness on transparency and citizen participation, while the Dagyaw Town Halls is an institutionalized mechanism for surfacing grassroots concerns and informing policy and decision-making.

The DBM has also co-led roundtable discussions and bilateral meetings to assess the LGUs’ readiness in joining the OGP Local Program.

As of April 2024, the Philippines’ five active members in the OGP Local Program are South Cotabato; Tagbilaran City, Bohol; Larena, Siquijor; Quezon City; and Baguio City.

Pangandaman said the DILG’s fresh directive will lay the groundwork for the operationalization of the OGP Localization Program to help LGUs become globally competitive open government champions, while supporting the co-creation and implementation of open government reforms through active collaboration with civil society organizations.

“With more local government units embracing the open government principles, we get closer to creating a more just, transparent, and empowered society. The momentum is here—and it is local,” she said. (PNA)