Secretary Pangandaman calls on La Union, Ilocos Region to join Open Government Partnership

Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary and Philippine Open Government Partnership (PH-OGP) Chairperson Amenah F. Pangandaman led the Ilocos Region’s pledge to open governance during the La Union leg of the OGPinas! nationwide advocacy campaign on October 8, 2024. 

More than 300 members of national and local governments, civil society organizations, and the academe in Region I pledged their commitment to uphold the Open Government Partnership (OGP) values of transparency, accountability, and citizen participation. 

“Ngayong araw, may pagkakataon po ang La Union na maisulong din ang bukás na pamamahala dito sa inyong probinsya (Today, La Union also gets the chance to promote open governance here in the province),” Secretary Pangandaman said in her message.  

The Budget Chief further shared her vision to have more local government units (LGUs) as part of the OGP. Highlighting that there are now four LGUs in the OGP Local Program, namely, Baguio City, Quezon City, Tagbilaran City, and Municipality of Larena in Siquijor, Secretary Pangandaman invited La Union to also take part in the program.  

She likewise shared that the Philippines’ efforts to ensure transparency in governance continues to be recognized internationally even by OGP CEO Sanjay Pradhan himself who cited the country’s efforts in mainstreaming open government in its socioeconomic framework during the OGP Leaders Roundtable held at the sidelines of the 79 th United Nations General Assembly last September 26 in New York.    

6 th PH-OGP National Action Plan  

During the panel discussion, Atty. Francis Benedict P. Reotutar of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) delivered updates on their commitment under the 6th PH-OGP National Action Plan (NAP), the country’s first medium-term action plan on open governance, highlighting that the COMELEC is now collaborating with CSOs to verify and certify the list of voters. This is in line with its commitment to ensuring that eligible Filipinos can exercise their right to vote in preparation for the upcoming 2025 national and local elections.    

Meanwhile, Judge Marion Jacqueline P. Poblete from the Regional Trial Court Branch 3 of