The Makati Business Club (MBC) has commended Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah “Mina” F. Pangandaman for her bold leadership in advancing fiscal transparency and participatory governance, hailing the 2025 national budget as the “most transparent and open budget in Philippine history.”
Speaking at the Open Government Week 2025 Partners and Stakeholders’ Reception, MBC Executive Director Rafael Alfonso “Apa” Ongpin praised Secretary Pangandaman and her team for setting a new standard in government accountability. “The 2025 [national] budget, which came under so much scrutiny, came under that scrutiny because it was the most open budget in Philippine history. That’s to the credit of the DBM team,” Ongpin said.
In a milestone for inclusive policymaking, the DBM facilitated the first-ever dialogue between civil society organizations (CSOs) and the Philippines’ Economic Team during the Open Government Week. The engagement, initially proposed by CSOs at the 2025 Open Government Partnership (OGP) Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting, was made a reality under Secretary Pangandaman’s tenure.
Ongpin lauded this move, noting it marks a major shift toward participatory governance. “Holding a civil society consultation on the national budget is a strong signal that more inclusive and participatory budgeting is possible,” he said. “The perspectives of citizens, reform advocates, and the private sector are being welcomed at the table.”
Reflecting the business sector’s growing confidence in the government’s transparency agenda, Ongpin affirmed MBC’s support for Secretary Pangandaman and the Open Government Partnership. “We’re trying to send a message to the President saying ‘You’ve got a great team. You know… Better keep it,’” he added.
Secretary Pangandaman credited the Marcos Jr. administration for institutionalizing the Philippine Open Government Partnership (PH-OGP), noting that open government has become a guiding principle across government reforms. “Since the inception and institutionalization of the PH-OGP under the leadership of no less than President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., we have moved steadily from commitment to action,” Pangandaman stated. “We’ve demonstrated that open government is not just a passing trend—it is a working principle embedded in how we plan, spend, consult, and reform.”
Earlier this month, Ongpin also voiced support for the administration’s push for the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill, citing its potential to significantly improve transparency, accountability, and business confidence. He emphasized the unusual yet commendable stance of the Executive Branch under President Marcos Jr. in championing FOI.
“Generally speaking, the executive branches of government tend to resist Freedom of Information,” Ongpin explained. “The opposite is the case with the Marcos [Jr.] administration.”
Open Government Week 2025, hosted by the DBM and the PH-OGP Secretariat, brought together leaders from across government, civil society, youth, business, and development sectors to celebrate achievements in open governance and promote continued reforms.
“Open government is not just the job of government,” Ongpin concluded. “It’s a shared effort. It takes business, civil society, the media, and active citizens. And events like this remind us that while the work isn’t easy—we’re not doing it alone.”
