The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to strengthen transparency and advance the Philippine Open Government Partnership (PH-OGP) 2026 Agenda.

In a news release on Thursday, the DOJ said Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida and Budget Secretary Kim Robert De Leon led the landmark ceremonial signing on July 2.

Under the MOU, the DOJ and DBM vowed to intensify their inter-agency partnership to implement and monitor their respective OGP undertakings, aimed at making public institutions more open, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of the Filipino people.

“We recognize that public trust is earned not only through sound policies, but through genuine partnerships with civil society, the academe, local governments, development partners, and the communities we serve,” Vida said.

The signing followed the 2nd Quarter PH‑OGP Steering Committee meeting, where representatives of national government agencies and civil society organizations discussed strategic priorities and assessed the progress of existing OGP commitments.

Established in 2011, the OGP is an international initiative with more than 70 countries, 150 local governments, and thousands of civil society organizations participating in a mission to formulate and adopt reforms that uphold transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in governance.

Joining Vida and De Leon at the signing were Justice Undersecretary Margarita Gutierrez, DOJ Planning and Management Service Director Vanya Ysabel Maneja‑Kharazmi, and PH‑OGP Project Management Office Director Glenn Miranda. (PNA)