DAVAO CITY (PIA) — Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman called on Mindanaoans to commit themselves to the Open Government movement to sustain a peaceful and thriving Mindanao.
“I want to emphasize that this Open Government movement, OGPinas!, 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,” Pangandaman stressed during the Mindanao-leg of OGPinas! on November 24 in Davao City.
DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman calls on Mindanaoans to be part of the open government campaign for the success and progress of Mindanao.
Speaking before 300 participants from the national and local government units and civil society organizations from Regions 11, 12, and 13 and some student leaders in Davao City, Pangandaman emphasized the importance of public participation in policy-making and governance in achieving “inclusive, responsive, and accountable governance systems.”
She said that “the call for open government and good governance” in Mindanao is “stronger and louder,” noting that the island had a rough past in achieving peace.
“Bilang isang taas-noong anak ng Mindanao, alam ko pong marami na tayong pinagdaanan para makamit ang kapayapaang ating tinatamasa ngayon,” she explained.
That’s why Pangandaman said, “Ngayon, kailangan naman natin ang open government upang mapangalagaan at lalong mabigyang halaga ang tinatamasang kapayapaang ito.”
The DBM secretary believes that an open government plays a pivotal role in successfully carrying out peacebuilding and socioeconomic recovery in Mindanao.
DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, with the officials from various national government agencies in Regions 11, 12, and 13, officials and various local government units in Region 11, civil society organizations, and student leaders gather as the USeP Gymnisium to champion the open government campaign.
“We need to establish public trust in our institutions that will strengthen our commitment to carry our people forward into a peaceful future,” she explained.
She said that the open government is not new to Mindanao, mentioning that the Province of South Cotabato joined the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Local Program in 2018 and has been implementing ordinances to promote and strengthen participatory governance in the province.
She hoped that South Cotabato would serve as an inspiration to all provinces in Mindanao, especially in BARMM, to embrace open government.
Meanwhile, Sittie Rahma Sagabain, president of Gawang Bangsamoro Framer’s Association from Sultan Kudarat, said that OGPinas! is a great platform to strengthen public participation in the government, particularly civil society organizations (CSO).
He believes that it holds a pivotal role in the implementation of government programs and services.
“Napakagandang programa ito [upang] magkaroon ng transparency yung government, any government transactions. Ma-enhance yung participation ng civil society organizations para magkaroon ng check and balance,” Sagabain stated.
He hopes that through this platform, more CSOs will be encouraged to get involved in open government and that more local movement units will open their doors to partner with the different CSOs in their localities. Giana Alliona Caminade, student council president from the
Sittie Rahma Sagabain, president of Gawang Bangsamoro Framer’s Association from Sultan Kudarat, believes that the activity strengthens the partnership between the government, especially local government units, and the civil society organizations.
University of Southeastern Philippines –Obrero Campus, said that the activity is an opportunity for them to learn about the role of the public, especially the youth, in the decision-making and policy-making in the government.
“It would be beneficial not just for us leaders but for the rest of us students. As leaders, as youth, as young leaders in this country, we can make something; we can be stewards of change,” she said.
Caminade added that the event is also a great platform to raise and clarify some issues, especially on budget realignment in state universities and colleges, which is currently the concern of the students in the university, so that they would be able to explain to their fellow students regarding this matter and clear out some misinformation circulating on campus.
Giana Alliona Caminade, student council president from the University of Southeastern Philippines – Obrero Campus, says that the activity is a great opportunity for the youth, especially students, to raise their concerns and be heard.
OGPinas! is a national advocacy campaign led by the DBM in partnership with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) that aims to uphold the Open Government Partnership (OGP) values of transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement to strengthen the governance system.
The OGP was institutionalized under Executive Order (EO) No. 31, signed by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. in June.
The Philippines is one of the eight countries that established and founded the OGP. (CLC/ASO/PIA Davao)
