Marcos: Be advocates of accountability
President Marcos called on all government units and agencies and international partners to be part of the global commitment to open governance.
During the plenary opening of the 2025 Open Government Partnership Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting on Thursday, Feb. 6, Marcos also called on local government units and agencies to be advocates of accountability as he stressed that open governance is fundamental to prosperity, stability, and security.
"Join the conversation. Be advocates of accountability in your own communities. Be part of the global commitment to open governance," Marcos said in his speech at the event held at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.
He also called on the Philippines' international friends and partners to continue working together towards open governance, which, he said, was a very important endeavor.
"Let us foster a deeper trust amongst each other, that can only be earned through impactful dialogues, concrete actions, and genuine support," he told them.
"So, as we chart our course to a more open and dynamic Asia-Pacific, let us be reminded of the powerful role of collaboration, especially in addressing complex challenges of governance in this 21st century," he added.
"May we see the grand opportunity we have today and use it to send a powerful message to the world: that open governance is fundamental to prosperity, to stability, and to security in a rapidly transforming world," Marcos further said.
In his speech, the President cited the enactment of the New Government Procurement Act which bolsters the government's fight against corruption and red tape.
He labeled it as the "biggest anti-corruption law in modern times" as it simplifies, improves, and modernizes the decades-old Philippine government procurement system.
"This new procurement law has already positioned the Philippines as a leading model of transparency in Asia and a pioneer in open governance in the world," he said.
The Chief Executive also cited the launching of Public Financial Management Reforms Roadmap 2024-2028 in September. This budget blueprint, he said, will facilitate the automation of public financial management—from planning and procurement to the monitoring and evaluation of how public funds are spent.
"We are now working on harmonizing our various budget management systems to eliminate redundancies and to achieve efficiency and accuracy in the management of our revenues and of our expenditures," Marcos said.
The Philippines also pursued the Citizen Participatory Audit Program, Grassroots Participatory Budgeting, and Open Data Portal which allow Filipinos to participate in the governance process, enriching policy and program implementation.
Marcos said through these efforts, the country has been recognized globally.
The Philippines' hosting of the Open Government Partnership Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting this year, the President said, testifies to how the government has embraced open governance as part of its national identity.
The OGP is a global, multi-stakeholder initiative aimed at making governments more transparent, accountable and responsive to citizens. It promotes the collaboration between the government and civil society to improve public service, fight corruption, empower communities, and create real and lasting change.
The APRM will focus on advancing open government and addressing regional challenges through the sharing of best practices and innovative solutions that enhance governance across the Asia-Pacific.
Over 800 government officials, civil society leaders, and policymakers from more than 40 countries are expected to participate.