MANILA – The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has partnered with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) for the first-ever “Philippine Open Government Partnership (OGP) Fun Run” on January 26, 2025 at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.
DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, MMDA chairperson Romando Artes, and PRC Secretary-General Gwen Pang signed Thursday a memorandum of agreement for the OGP Fun Run at the new MMDA head office in Pasig City.
In a statement, the DBM said the OGP Fun Run will be a prelude to the upcoming PH-OGP Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting that will be held in Manila in February 2025.
The side event is strategically designed as a lead-up to the OGP Asia and Pacific Regional Meeting, a high-level gathering that aims to foster open governance by bringing together government entities, the private sector, and civil society from February 5 to 7 next year.
The DBM will plan and provide oversight for the OGP Fun Run, coordinating between all parties.
“A central goal of President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos Jr. and the DBM is to uphold transparency, accountability, and participatory governance throughout the Philippines. These principles are foundational to the OGP and closely align with PBBM’s governance agenda,” Pangandaman said, stressing the importance of these values in the context of the upcoming OGP Fun Run.
The OGP Fun Run is open to the public, offering three race distances of 3km, 5km, and 10 km.
It is designed to foster community and raise awareness about the principles of transparency, accountability, and participatory governance which serve as cornerstones of the OGP.
As part of the broader initiative, the activity aims to highlight the Philippines’ commitment to the OGP cornerstones and its role as a leader in promoting open government practices in the Asia Pacific region.
The DBM said the MMDA will take the lead in managing logistics, route planning, and traffic coordination, ensuring a smooth and safe event for all participants in the OGP Fun Run.
Artes said the fun run is another way of promoting “transparent, honest, and accountable governance.”
The PRC, on the other hand, will oversee additional logistical aspects and serve as the beneficiary of the event, channeling funds raised towards vital humanitarian missions.
Pang said the side event would help the non-profit humanitarian organization, focusing particularly on lifesaving initiatives.
“The original thrust of the partnership between the Philippine Red Cross and the DBM is really focused on lifesaving. Anything that falls under lifesaving, we would like to dedicate the funds that we will raise from the OGP Fun Run,” she said, adding that the main objective is to save lives and alleviate human suffering.
The OGP Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting from February 5 to 7, 2025 will bring together heads of state, state leaders, representatives from civil society, international organizations and policymakers from across the region to harness democratic practices and advance progress in making governments more open and accountable.
The OGP is a multi-stakeholder initiative that includes 75 countries and 150 local governments, representing over 2 billion people, and thousands of civil society organizations that advocate transparent, participatory, inclusive, and accountable governance. (PNA)