Inquirer Interactive, DBM sign partnership for OGP-OPRM in February

Inquirer Interactive, Inc. Chief Operating Officer Imelda Alcantara and Senior Manager for Digital Strategy Ralph Gurango sign a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Budget and Management to formalize their partnership in the upcoming Open Government Partnership Agreement Asia-Pacific Regional Meeting set for February. (Photo courtesy of Luisa Cabato/INQUIRER.net)

MANILA, Philippines — Inquirer Interactive, Inc. and four other media entities signed an agreement with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Tuesday to formalize their partnership for the upcoming Open Government Partnership Asia-Pacific Regional Meeting (OGP-OPRM) scheduled for February.

The OGP-OPRM, set to take place from February 5 to 7 at the Grand Hyatt Manila, will bring together local and international government leaders, regional policymakers, and global partners to exchange best practices on open government initiatives.

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

Inquirer Interactive, Inc. Chief Operating Officer Imelda Alcantara and Senior Manager for Digital Strategy Ralph Gurango signed the agreement on behalf of their media entity.

Other media entities that signed the deal with the DBM were the Manila Bulletin, DZRH-Manila Broadcasting Company, Digital Out-of-Home Philippines, and the Presidential Communications Office.

In an ambush interview, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman emphasized the important role that media will play in the OGP-OPRM.

“Kunwari mayroong programa ang gobyerno, ‘yung media will help us na ipahatid ito,” she said.

(For example, if the government has a program, the media will help us convey it.)

She further emphasized the significance of the two-day meeting to the government.

“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,” she said.

(It’s important that we listen to the participation and desires of our fellow citizens, stakeholders, and even civil society organizations to understand what they want to see in their budget.)

In the interview, Pangandaman said the country is all set to host the two-day event. “We are in close coordination with the PNP (Philippine National Police), Army, so everything is okay,” she said.

“Everything is on the way. We’re just finishing the documentation, the final program, and the last-minute amendments to our program. We’re ready,” Pangandaman added in a mix of Filipino and English.