MANILA: The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has announced it will host the inaugural ‘Philippine Open Government Partnership (OGP) Fun Run’ on January 26, 2025, at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila. In collaboration with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), the event aims to promote transparency, accountability, and participatory governance.

According to Philippines News Agency, DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, MMDA chairperson Romando Artes, and PRC Secretary-General Gwen Pang formalized the collaboration by signing a memorandum of agreement at the MMDA’s new headquarters in Pasig City. The OGP Fun Run serves as a precursor to the PH-OGP Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting scheduled for February 5-7, 2025, in Manila. This high-level meeting will gather government entities, private sector representatives, and civil society to advance open governance in the region.

The DBM will oversee the planning of the fun run, which is open to the public and
offers 3km, 5km, and 10km race distances. It aims to foster community engagement and raise awareness about the OGP’s core values. “A central goal of President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos Jr. and the DBM is to uphold transparency, accountability, and participatory governance throughout the Philippines,” Pangandaman stated, underscoring the event’s alignment with the national governance agenda.

The MMDA will manage logistics, including route planning and traffic coordination, to ensure a smooth event. Artes highlighted the fun run as a means to promote transparent and accountable governance. The PRC will handle additional logistics and will be the event’s beneficiary, using raised funds for humanitarian missions focused on lifesaving initiatives.

The OGP Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting will convene leaders and stakeholders from the region to discuss democratic practices and efforts to make governments more open and accountable. The OGP, a multi-stakeholder initiative, includes 75 countries and 150 lo
cal governments, representing over 2 billion people and advocating for transparent and inclusive governance.