By Hannah Bea Japon
The De La Salle University - Jesse M. Robredo Institute of Governance (DLSU - JRIG) views the Open Government Partnership (OGP) as a platform to advance the goals of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 16 by promoting transparency, public participation, and accountability, which are important for achieving peaceful and just societies.
Given this vision, experts from the academe and government gathered last 24 April 2025 to explore measures on enhancing the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill. The DLSU-JRIG and the Philippine Open Government Partnership (PH-OGP) hosted the roundtable discussion titled, “Advancing Open Government through Access to Information”. The FOI Bill aims to render information and data accessible to Filipino citizens. As agents of knowledge, higher education institutions and research centers provide avenues to promote accountability and transparency in governance, and serve as information intermediaries in analyzing official government data and offering recommendations for advancing socioeconomic development.
The roundtable discussion served as an avenue for participants to express their views on the implementation challenges that will arise once the FOI bill becomes a law. Among the issues identified are the capacity-building requirements for data officers, as well as the resource constraints that the government must address. The participants stressed the need to integrate modules on freedom of information in the academic curriculum and ensure youth participation in upholding its principles. Furthermore, it was discussed that the provision of information to other nationalities may involve a reciprocity clause.
In the succeeding month, on 22 May 2025, the DLSU-JRIG and the PH-OGP co-organized a forum on “Universities as Catalysts” in celebration of Open Gov Week 2025 to advocate for the role of universities as enablers of good governance by leveraging research and civic engagement.
In her opening remarks, Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman of the Department of Budget and Management, highlighted the role of the academe in promoting evidence-based governance through knowledge partnerships, and the integration of Freedom of Information into academic curricula.
During the panel discussion, Dr. Francisco Magno, Director of DLSU-JRIG, emphasized the role of universities in policy development, governance capacity-building, and civic accountability. On the other hand, Dr. Prose Ivy Guasa-Yepes, President of Visayas State University, delved into the responsibility of state universities and colleges (SUCs) in launching service learning programs to encourage student engagement and democratic ideals. Prof. Eddie Nuque, Senior Consultant of the DLSU-JRIG, further builds on the higher education institutions (HEIs)’s role to drive innovation and serve as a platform for community service. Gen Leaño of the University of the Philippines National College of Public Administration (UP NCPAG) underscored the importance of youth participation and evidence-based policymaking through research labs, noting that data availability is critical for research institutions to generate more in-depth analysis and meaningful findings. In his closing remarks, Dr. Ador Torneo, Dean of the DLSU College of Liberal Arts, expressed institutional support for advancing engagements between the academe and the government to strengthen inclusiveness, innovation, and integrity in leadership and policy development.
Dialogue on the role of higher education in policy engagement and the integration of OGP ideals into research and teaching is fostered by convening diverse stakeholders from the academe, government, and civil society in successive roundtable discussions. Under SDG 16, universities need to demonstrate how they are working with the government. Through these activities, the DLSU-JRIG provided a neutral platform and safe space for multiple stakeholders to come together to frankly discuss the challenges of fostering open government.
