Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
Since the landmark institutionalization of the Philippine Open Government Partnership (PH-OGP) through Executive Order No. 31 in 2023, we have remained steadfast in advancing transparency, accountability, and citizen participation through our initiatives and reforms.
This year, we aim to deepen public understanding of our country's Open Government Agenda by sharing the stories behind our activities and accomplishments—each serving as a testament to how open governance principles are put into practice.
Hence, we are pleased to present the inaugural issue of our newsletter, "Open Governance in Focus: A Midyear Journey of Progress Through Collaboration." This publication highlights the milestones we have reached, the partnerships that have sustained our efforts, and the path we have charted in the first half of 2025.
In February, we successfully hosted the 2025 OGP Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting (APRM), which provided a platform for over a thousand Open Government advocates to exchange insights and strengthen regional collaboration.
This also paved the way for us to gain the support of no less than President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and civil society leaders in amplifying our call for the passage of a Right to Information (RTI) Law—a crucial step toward institutionalizing transparency and meaningful citizen engagement in governance.
We made history in May with the celebration of Open Gov Week 2025—a vibrant gathering that firmly established Open Government as a cornerstone of our Bagong Pilipinas. This event also marked a turning point with the institutionalization of Open Gov Week through Presidential Proclamation No. 916, declaring its annual observance every third week of May.
Finally, we have intensified our OGP awareness campaign and localization efforts in line with our commitment to bringing the Open Government movement closer to every Filipino. The OGP Inspirational Gallery—first exhibited during the OGP APRM—has reached even more places, made possible by the warm support of various agencies that proudly displayed the gallery in their offices. We have also conducted youth dialogues and regional capacity-building further to energize the open governance space across the country.
These are just some of our milestones that remind us of the true essence of Open Government: fostering collaboration to achieve a more progressive and inclusive nation. All these are driven by the collective efforts of our Partners for Prosperity— from government, civil society, the private sector, and academe.
May this publication inspire and empower more champions of open governance to join us on this transformative journey, so that we can realize our vision of a Bagong Pilipinas—where the voices of the citizens are heard and progress is a lived reality for all.
