DEPARTMENT of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary and Philippine Open Government Partnership (PH-OGP) Chairman Amenah Pangandaman led the successful launch of OGPinas — a national advocacy campaign on open government — in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) on Wednesday, January 24.
The launch of OGPinas, now in its second year, coincided with the celebration of BARMM's Founding Anniversary Week.
OGPinas aims to raise awareness about the PH-OGP, especially at the local level, provide avenues and more channels of communication for government-civil society partnerships, and ultimately, strengthen public participation in policymaking and governance in the country.
Secretary Pangandaman, who hails from Mindanao, cited in her speech before the open government champions in attendance at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex in Cotabato City the importance of good governance.
Present during the event to show the Bangsamoro government's full support and commitment to the open government cause were BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim, Ministry of Finance, Budget and Management Minister Ubaida Pacasem, Ministry of the Interior and Local Government Minister Sha Elijah Dumama-Alba, Cotabato City Mayor Mohammad Ali "Bruce" Matabalao, and participants from different sectors of society.
The event was also graced by development partners of BARMM and members of the nongovernment sector represented by Zalave Dinas of the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society and Executive Director Rhadzni Taalim of the Bangsamoro Development Agency.
"As we launch the national government's OGPinas, let us all renew our commitment to promoting transparency and accountability to empower the Bangsamoro people," said Ebrahim.
True to her commitment to empowering her fellow Mindanaoans, the Budget secretary likewise addressed around 700 local budget officers and public financial management (PFM) practitioners from various provinces across Region 12 (Soccsksargen) for the PFM Competency Program for Local Government Units held in General Santos City earlier in the day.
Secretary Pangandaman was joined by Undersecretaries Wilford Will Wong and Margaux Salcedo, Assistant Secretary Rolando Toledo, Region 12 Director Akmad Usman, and Advocacy, Communications and Training Service Director Diana Camacho-Mercado in the Cotabato leg of OGPinas, which was held in collaboration with DBM Regional Office 12 and the Bangsamoro government.
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