TAGBILARAN City has officially joined the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Local, standing alongside Baguio, Larena, and Quezon City as new members.
The formal introduction took place during the 2025 OGP Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Manila from February 5 to 7, 2025.
This gathering brought together high-ranking government officials, civil society leaders, and policymakers from across the region to advance participatory governance, foster resilient democracies, and strengthen public trust through innovative government practices.
Mayor Jane Yap reaffirmed Tagbilaran City’s dedication to transparency and citizen participation through the Open Budget Initiative.
In a statement, she emphasized the importance of empowering the public in governance, particularly in financial decision-making.
She said: “An open government means an inclusive government—one where every Tagbilaranon has the opportunity to engage in shaping policies that affect their lives. Our Open Budget Initiative is not just about transparency but about ensuring that our people have a voice in where and how public funds are spent.”
As part of this commitment, Tagbilaran City will roll out a series of public webinars aimed at educating civil society organizations (CSOs), individuals, and the general public on the intricacies of the budget process.
These sessions will provide insights into budget planning, fund allocation, and spending priorities.
The initiative will culminate in the monitoring and evaluation of the city’s first-quarter 2025 budget, enabling stakeholders to track fund utilization and assess the impact of expenditures.
To institutionalize transparency and accountability, quarterly monitoring and evaluation activities will be conducted to refine budget processes and improve future allocations.
Representing Tagbilaran City at the event were Chief of Staff Cathelyn Torremocha, OGP Point Person Alica Faith Bayocot, and CSO in-charge Kim Anub. Their participation reinforced the city’s active role in global discussions on good governance, highlighting Tagbilaran’s commitment to making governance more inclusive, accountable, and responsive to the needs of its citizens.
