PH hosts high-level regional conference on Open Governance

REPRESENTATIVES from government and civil society met during the High Level Regional Conference on Open Government at the Philippine International Convention Center on August 15 to discuss Open Government initiatives within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations region, a side event of the Philippines’ chairmanship of the Asean.

Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr. gave the keynote speech while OGP Deputy CEO Joe Powell, Director Jeffrey Lehrer of - ment and Governance of USAID Philippines, and Deputy Minister Slamet Soedarsono of Indonesia’s National Development and Planning Ministry gave their respective messages of support.

Evasco said the OGP is “part of the Change agenda of the Duterte administration.”

Meanwhile, DBM Secretary Benjamin Diokno, co-chairperson of the PH-OGP Steering Committee, echoed his remarks in an AVP. “[The Philippines’] participation in OGP clearly shows the Duterte administration is determined to deliver on our promise to listen to the people and serve them better”, Secretary Diokno said.

Budget Undersecretary Laura Pascua led the discussion during the Regional Roundtable Discussion on Open Government, along with Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) OIC Catalino Cuy and Indonesia Deputy Minister Soedarsono. For more details, log on to