Institutionalizing PH Open Government Partnership

The Philippines was one of the 8 founding members of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) in 2011, an international initiative involving national/local governments and civil society organizations (CSOs).
The country pledged adherence to key OGP principles: transparency, accountability, citizen participation, technology, and innovation.
The National Action Plan (NAP) was to be co-created with CSOs and subjected to independent monitoring by the OGP’s Independent Reporting Mechanism (IRM).
The Philippines is recognized internationally for pioneering government transparency and social accountability.

PH-OGP is formally institutionalized as a multi-stakeholder partnership with joint government-CSO oversight of the country's OGP commitments.
The PH-OGP Steering Committee is tasked with embedding open government values within government policies and programs.

Chaired by the Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
Members include key Cabinet secretaries (Executive Secretary, NEDA, DILG, DSWD), the National President of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, and four non-permanent government representatives.
CSO representation consists of ten elected members, with internal election of a Co-Chairperson.
Alternates at the rank of Undersecretary/Assistant Secretary may serve as representatives.
Terms for non-permanent and CSO members correspond with the PH-OGP NAP cycle.
The Committee may invite Legislative and Judicial representatives for coordination purposes.

Set PH-OGP’s policies, programs, and priorities, especially for the development of the National Action Plan.
Promote the integration of open government principles into national and local governance processes.
Monitor and evaluate implementation of the NAP and publish an annual public report.
Develop communications and advocacy strategies to advance PH-OGP goals.
Exercise additional related functions as defined in the Committee’s Terms of Reference.

Quarterly regular meetings and special meetings when necessary.
Quorum requires at least eleven members with balanced government and CSO representation.
Decisions are made by consensus.

The Chairperson designates a POC to coordinate OGP activities locally and internationally, foster stakeholder engagement, and serve as liaison.
Secretariat support is provided by DBM personnel and a CSO counterpart.
The Secretariat assists with administrative and technical functions to facilitate the Committee’s duties.

The NAP comprises government commitments created through a multi-stakeholder process.
It articulates specific government programs and projects that align with OGP values.
The NAP is subject to evaluation through the OGP’s Independent Reporting Mechanism.

Initial implementation costs charged to existing appropriations of the member agencies.
Operational expenses, including those of the Steering Committee, funded by the DBM appropriations.
Future funding to be included in the General Appropriations Act under relevant agencies’ budgets.

Separability clause: invalidity of any provision does not affect the rest of the Order.
Repeal of inconsistent orders, guidelines, or rules.

Immediate effectivity upon publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.