MALACAÑAN PALACE
MANILA
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES
[ EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 31, June 20, 2023 ]
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE PHILIPPINE OPEN GOVERNMENT PARTNERSHIP AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
WHEREAS, Section 16, Article XIII of the Constitution provides that the right of the people and their organizations to effective and reasonable participation at all levels of social, political, and economic decision-making shall not be abridged;
WHEREAS, in September 2011, the Philippine became one of the eight (8) founding members of the Open Government Partnership (OGP), a broad international partnership that includes members from national and local governments, and civil society organizations (CSOs);
WHEREAS, as a member country, the Philippines endorsed a high-level Open Government Declaration, committing itself to co-creating a National Action Plan (NAP) with the CSOs, anchored on the values of transparency, accountability, citizen participation, and technology and innovation, and subjecting said NAP to the independent Reporting Mechanism (IRM) of the OGP;
WHEREAS, over a decade of engagement in the OGP and employing significant innovations in government processes, the Philippines is recognized as a trailblazer in promoting transparency, strengthening social accountability, and empowering citizens;
WHEREAS, the Philippine Open Government Partnership (PH-OGP) has evolved into a vital platform for introducing governance reforms through harnessing technology, creating synergy with CSOs, and mainstreaming these innovations in various levels of governments; and
WHEREAS, to further strengthen the engagement of government and non-government champions, there is a need to institutionalize the PH-OGP as a mechanism for the delivery of more effective and sustainable actions to address current social concerns;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND R. MARCOS, JR., President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and existing laws, do hereby order:
Section 1. Institutionalizing the Philippine Open Government Partnership. The PH-OGP is hereby institutionalized as a multi-stakeholder partnership responsible for overseeing and implementing the country's commitments to the OGP. The PH-OGP, through its Steering Committee, shall also ensure that open government values are embedded in government policies and programs.
Section 2. PH-OGP Steering Committee. The PH-OGP Steering Committee, a multi-stakeholder forum composed of representatives from the govenrment and CSOs, is hereby constituted to stand as a policy and decision-making body for PH-OGP. It shall be chaired by the Secretary of the DBM and shall be composed of the following members:
a. Executive Secretary;
b. Secretary, National Economic and Development Authority;
c. Secretary, Department of the Interior and Local Government;
d. Secretary, Department of Social Welfare and Development;
e. Four (4) government sector representatives identified by the Chairperson as non-permanent members;
f. National President, Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines; and
g. Ten (10) CSO representatives.
The four (4) non-permanent members shall be identified from the govenrment sector based on future directions set in national government priorities.
The PH-OGP Steering Committee may invite representatives from the Legislative and Judicial branches of government, to effect synchronization and complementation of open government initiatives and programs.
Authorized representatives, preferably with the rank of Undersecretary and Assistant Secretary, or their equivalent, shall be designated as the rpincipal's alternate and second alternates, respectively, to the PH-OGP Steering Committee.
The CSO members shall be elected through a selection process designed independently by the incumbent CSO members and confirmed by the PH-OGP Steering Committee. They shall in turn elect from among themselves the Co-Chairperson of the Ph-OGP Steering Committee.
The non-permanent members and CSO members shall have a term equivalent to the period of the PH-OGP NAP cycle.
Section 3. Powers and Functions of the Ph-OGP Steering Committee. The PH-OGP Steering Committee shall set the direction, programs, and activities of the PH-OGP, and promote open, and participatory governance through advocacy and outreach activities. Specifically, it will conduct the following:
a. Set the policy direction of the PH-OGP in the development and formulation of the PH-OGP NAP;
b. Integrate open and inclusive government principles in national and local governance processes;
c. Monitor and evaluate the implementation of the PH-OGP NAP;
d. Publish an annual monitoring and evaluation report on the accomplishments of the PH-OGP NAP, to be presented in a public forum;
e. Develop a communication and advocacy plan focusing on the PH-OGP processes and goals; and
f. Such other related powers and functions to be defined in the Terms of Reference of the PH-OGP Steering Committee.£A⩊phi£
Section 4. Meetings. The PH-OGP Steering Committee shall hold regular quarterly meetings and call for special meetings when necessary. The quorum for such meetings shall require the presence of at least eleven (11) members, maintaining significant representation from both the government and CSOs. Decisions of the Committee shall be based on consensus.
Section 5. The PH-OGP Point of Contact (POC) and Secretariat. The PH-OGP Chairperson shall designate the POC, who shall be responsible for coordinating local and international OGP activities, engaging and convening stakeholders on a regular basis, and organizing OGP activities and initiatives. The POC shall also lead and support engagements with stakeholders, OGP Support Unit, and IRM, spearhead participation in regional and international events and peer-exchange activities, and act as a government and non-government liaison and coordinator. The POC shall be supported by the PH-OGP Secretariat under the DBM and a CSO counterpart identified by the incumbent CSO Steering Committee members.
The PH-OGP Secretariat shall be composed of DBM personnel who shall provide the necessary technical and administrative assistance and support to the PH-OGP Steering Committee in carrying out its mandates and functions.
Section 6. The PH-GOP National Action Plan. The PH-OGP NAP shall contain commitments from the government, which shall be co-created through a multi-stakeholder process. It shall also embody a concrete set of actions, composed of government programs and projects that conform to the OGP values. The NAP shall incorporate the country's commitment to the OGP , that will be assessed through the IRM.
Section 7. Funding. The amount necessary for the initial implementation of this Order shall be charged against the available appropriations of the PH-OGP Steering Committee member-agencies, subject to pertinent budgeting, accounting and auditing laws, rules and regulations. Operational expenses of the PH-OGP, including the activities of the PH-OGP Steering Committee, shall be charged against available appropriations of the DBM.
Thereafter, the funding requirements for the succeeding years shall be included in the General Appropriations Act, under the respective appropriations of each of the member-agencies, subject to the usual budget preparation process.
Section 8. Separability. If any part of this Order is held unconstitutional or invalid, other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.
Section 9. Repeal. All other orders, guidelines, rules, regulations and issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Order are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Section 10. Effectivity. This Order shall take effect immediately upon publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
DONE, in the City of Manila, this 20th day of June, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Twenty Three.
(SGD.) FERDINAND R. MARCOS, JR.
By the President:
(SGD.) LUCAS P. BERSAMIN
Executive Secretary
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