COTABATO CITY—A transformative nationwide advocacy campaign dubbed Philippine Open Government Partnership (PH-OGP) or OGPinas was officially launched on Jan. 24, in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
OGPinas campaign was institutionalized on June 20, 2023, by Executive Order 31, seeking to provide an avenue for citizens to access information, encourage civic participation, and strengthen public accountability.
The launching was spearheaded by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, Budget, and Management (MFBM), Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG), and Bangsamoro Information Office (BIO).
Leading the OGPinas campaign, DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman enjoined everyone to empower others through this platform to make the desired changes for lasting peace and prosperity in Mindanao.
The Secretary said, “This open government movement is for you so that we can dialogue and work together towards transforming Mindanao from a land of promise to a land of promises fulfilled.
“It is my dream to see a BARMM that is striving and a Mindanao that shines as a land of promise, and I am confident that this dream will turn into a reality through open government and good governance,” she added.
Citing some of the concrete examples of BARMM programs related to OGPinas, Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim emphasized that the Community Monitoring and Actionable Tracking System or CM-ACTS application serves as a vital channel in receiving feedbacks directly from the community.
“Today, we are not only witnessing the unfolding of a nationwide campaign but also affirm our commitment to the principles that guide us – moral governance, accessibility, and citizen empowerment,” the Chief Minister said.
“As we launch the national government’s OGPinas, let us also renew our commitment to promoting transparency and accountability to empower the Bangsamoro people,” he added.
“Let us all work towards expanding public engagement, encouraging civil society involvement, and strengthening transparency and accountability reforms in Bangsamoro,” he urged.
Cotabato City Mayor Mohammad ‘Bruce’ Matabalao supported the campaign and asked everyone to harness new technologies for good governance and to combat corruption in all its forms.
“With the nationwide advocacy campaign, we take a significant step towards realizing the vision of a government that is not only of the people and by the people but truly for the people,” Matabalao said.
Emphasizing the transformative impact of OGPinas, MFBM Minister Atty. Ubaida Pacasem mentioned that Integrating moral governance with an open governance program creates a robust framework for building a government that is not only transparent and accountable but also one rooted in ethical values and principles.
“By sustaining an environment where government institutions, civil society organizations, and the private sector work hand in hand, we strive to build a more responsive, efficient, and people-centric government,” Pacasem said.
Meanwhile, MILG Minister Atty. Sha Elija Dumama-Alba emphasized that since the inception of BARMM, the Bangsamoro government has been widely acknowledged for championing “Moral Governance”.
Associate Justice Japar Dimaampao also connected the OGPinas to the principle of Shura or Consultation in Islam which promotes government transparency and accountability and encompasses public participation and deliberation.
Civil Society Organizations representative, Zalave Dinas of Mindanao Organization for Social and Economic Progress, described the vital role of the private sector and people’s participation in promoting inclusive governance which could ensure the sustainability of the programs and projects at the grassroots level.
Wednesday’s event was also witnessed by distinguished individuals including the DBM Executives Undersecretary Margaux Salcedo, Undersecretary Wilford Wong, Assistant Secretary Rolando Toledo, and DBM Region XII Director Akmad Usman, BTA Parliament Speaker Pangalian Balindong, Intergovernmental Relations Body (IGRB) Co-Chair Mohagher Iqbal, Maguindanao del Norte Governor Abdulraof Macacua, MFBM officials, Local Chief Executives from six provinces of BARMM, representatives from academe, CSOs, and humanitarian partner, among others. (Kasan Usop, Jr./BIO)
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