Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman on Thursday urged local government units (LGUs) to embrace open governance and join the Open Government Partnership (OGP).

Speaking at the 2025 OGP Asia and Pacific Regional Meeting Opening Plenary in Taguig City, Pangandaman reiterated the Philippines’ commitment to the OGP principles of transparency, accountability, and civil society participation.

“The DBM took the lead in all of this,” Pangandaman, who also serves as OGP-Philippines chairperson, said.

“We don’t want to take a step back, but we want my fellow Cabinet members to really embrace the spirit and commitment of open government,” she added.

Pangandaman called for more LGUs to join the OGP, noting that while five municipalities are already members, over 1,000 others can benefit from participation.

“I’m happy that our Secretary of the Interior and Local Government is here. He will help us ensure that more local government units will be part of the OGP family,” she added.

Tagbilaran City in Bohol, Larena town in Siquijor, Quezon City, and Baguio City joined the OGP in 2024, alongside South Cotabato (2018) and Borongan, Samar (2020).

Pangandaman also expressed hope that the OGP principles would soon be reflected in the national budgeting process.

“Hopefully, we’ll be able to include this in our convergence budgeting program. We are in the transition stage, and maybe in our next budget cycle, we will be able to tag all the programs and projects that are part of our OGP commitments,” she said.

She also called on the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to join the OGP community.

“I’m happy that the entire Monetary Board, even the Governor of the BSP, is here today,” Pangandaman said. “Maybe, we can also ask the central bank to be part of our conversation and the OGP family.”

The Philippines is hosting the 2025 OGP Asia and Pacific Regional Meeting, gathering over 800 government representatives and civil society leaders from across the region.

The Philippines is one of the eight founding countries of the OGP, alongside Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, Norway, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States. (PNA)