DBM: PH ready for Open Gov’t Partnership Asia-Pacific meet in Feb

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is all set to host the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Asia-Pacific Meeting slated on February 5 to 7, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said on Tuesday.

The regional meeting, to be held at the Grand Hyatt Manila, will convene local and international government leaders, policy makers across the region, and global and regional partners to exchange best practices on open government initiatives.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will also attend the event.

In an ambush interview after a memorandum of agreement signing with media partners, Pangandaman said it will be the first time that the Philippines will host the event.

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“We are in close coordination with the PNP [Philippine National Police], army, so everything is okay,” she also said.

“Everything is on the way. Tinatapos lang namin ‘yung mga documentation, ‘yung final program, ‘yung mga last minute amendments sa program natin. We’re ready (We are just finishing the documentation, the final program, the last minute amendments to our program),” Pangandaman added.

Asked why the event is important, Pangandaman said, “Importante na napapakinggan natin ‘yung participation, ‘yung gusto ng ating kababayan, ‘yung mga stakeholders, and even our civil society organizations kung ano ‘yung gusto nila na makita sa budget nila.”

(It is important that we listen to the participation, what our countrymen want, the stakeholders, and even our civil society organizations what they want to see in their budget.)

A fun run scheduled for January 26 will be held to kick off the anticipated two-day meeting. Registration is still open until January 25.

Last June 2023, Marcos issued an executive order institutionalizing the OGP.