President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday highlighted the importance of open governance for prosperity, stability, and security as he welcomed delegates to the 2025 Open Government Partnership (OGP) Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting (APRM) in Taguig City.

This marks the first time the OGP has been hosted in the Philippines, with Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman serving as the Philippine Open Government Partnership (PH-OGP) Chairperson.

In his speech, Marcos encouraged stakeholders to advocate for accountability and actively participate in global efforts to advance open governance.

“Let our initiatives reflect the aspirations of our citizens,” he said. “Let us foster trust through impactful dialogue, concrete actions, and genuine support.”

The President also boasted about the Philippines’ achievements in open governance, citing the issuance of Executive Order 31 in June 2023, which institutionalized the Philippine OGP as a multi-stakeholder partnership. This move emphasized the involvement of local government units and civil society organizations (CSOs).

Additionally, Marcos highlighted efforts such as the Citizen Participatory Audit Program, Grassroots Participatory Budgeting, and the Open Data Portal, which have earned the Philippines global recognition.

“These initiatives stem from the belief that fostering civic engagement leads to transformative changes,” he added, noting that 4,000 stakeholders from local governments and CSOs nationwide have pledged their commitment through the ‘OGPinas’ advocacy campaign.

The OGP, founded in 2011 by eight countries including the Philippines, Brazil, and the United States, now consists of 75 member countries, 106 local governments, and numerous CSOs and multilateral partners. Marcos emphasized the Philippines’ role as one of the eight founding members committed to promoting transparency, accountability, and participatory governance worldwide.