PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. has ordered the institutionalizing of the Philippine Open Government Partnership (PH-OGP) to strengthen the engagement of government and non-government champions as well as provide a mechanism for the delivery of more effective and sustainable actions to address current social concerns.
The President, through Executive Order 31 which was signed on June 20 but only released yesterday, said institutionalizing the PH-OGP also aims to further promote transparency, strengthen social accountability, and empower the public.
“The Philippine Open Government Partnership (PH-OGP) has evolved into a vital platform for introducing governance reforms through harnessing technology, creating synergy with CSOs (civil society organizations), and mainstreaming these innovations in various levels of government. To further strengthen the engagement of government and non-government champions, there is a need to institutionalize the PH-OGP as a mechanism for the delivery of more effective and sustainable actions to address current social concerns,” the EO read.
Under the EO, a steering committee chaired by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary shall be formed and serve as the policy and decision-making body for the PH-OGP.
Its mandate includes ensuring that open government values are embedded in government policies and programs; setting the policy direction in the development and formulation of the National Action Plan (NAP); integrating open and inclusive government principles in national and local governance processes; monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the action plan; publishing an annual monitoring and evaluation report on the accomplishments of the NAP; and developing a communication and advocacy plan focusing on the PH-OGP processes and goals.
The PH-OGP Steering Committee includes the Executive, Local Government, and Social Welfare secretaries; the National Economic and Development Authority director general; four government sector representatives identified by the Chairperson as non-permanent members; the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines national president; and 10 CSO representatives.
Four non-permanent members will be identified from the government sector based on future directions set in national government priorities, while the CSO members will be elected through a selection process. The non-permanent members and CSO members shall also have a term equivalent to the period of the PH-OGP NAP
The PH-OGP Steering Committee may also invite representatives from the Legislative and Judicial branches of government, “to effect synchronization and complementation of open government initiatives and programs.”
The funding requirements for the initial implementation of EO 31 will be charged against the available appropriations of the PH-OGP Steering Committee member agencies, subject to pertinent budgeting, accounting, and auditing laws, rules and regulations while the operational expenses of the PH-OGP, including the activities of the PH-OGP Steering Committee, will be taken from the available appropriations of the DBM.
