In a significant stride towards open governance, Tagbilaran City Mayor Jane Yap participated in the prestigious Philippine Open Government Partnership (PH-OGP) Diplomatic Reception held on May 28, 2024, at the historic Marble Hall, Ayuntamiento de Manila.
This event marked a major milestone as Tagbilaran City was recently selected as one of the six Pilot Cities/Municipalities of the PH-OGP Locale.
The reception, an OGP activity, celebrated the inclusion of Tagbilaran City, along with Larena, Quezon City, and Baguio, into the ranks of OGP members.
These four LGUs join South Cotabato, which was accepted into the OGP in 2018, and Borongan, which joined in 2020.
This expansion underscores the Philippines’ commitment to fostering open governance at local levels.
In an interview Mayor Yap said, “It is a tremendous honor for Tagbilaran City to be recognized as one of the pilot cities for the Philippine Open Government Partnership. This inclusion reflects our unwavering commitment to transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement. Being part of this global initiative allows us to adopt best practices in governance, ensuring that our city’s development is inclusive and participatory.”
PH-OGP Chairperson and Department of Budget and Management Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman highlighted the nations accomplishments in promoting open government principles before a distinguished audience of local and international dignitaries.
The event also featured notable addresses from Guest of Honor Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Department of Foreign Affairs Acting Secretary Jesus Domingo, and PH-OGP Non-Government Steering Committee Chairperson Aurora Chavez.
The reception was graciously hosted by DBM Undersecretary Margaux V. Salcedo.
Among the esteemed attendees were Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, Associate Justice Samuel Gaerlan, Commission on Elections Chairman George Erwin Garcia, Treasurer of the Philippines Sharon Almanza, Department of Foreign Affairs Acting Secretary Jesus Domingo, PH-OGP Co-Chairperson Aurora Chavez and other National Government officials.
The event also saw participation from members of the Diplomatic Corps and International Development Organizations, including Quirino Governor Dakila Carlo Cua, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte and Borongan City Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda, alongside PH-OGP Steering Committee members.
The OGP, co-founded by the Philippines in 2011, is a multilateral organization of reformers from government, civil society networks, businesses, and non-profits. It upholds the values of access to information, public accountability, citizen participation, and the use of technology and innovation to enhance governance.
The Philippines stands proudly as one of the eight founding countries of the OGP, alongside Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, Norway, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States.