Manila, June 2 -- Amid the euphoria of victory and the despair of defeat in the midterm elections lies a crucial yet often overlooked democratic exercise-one frequently buried in mainstream print and social media: the active participation of citizens in shaping national and local budgets. Known as Open Government Partnership (OGP) Week, the event held from May 19 to 23 in the Philippines brings together government institutions, civil society organizations (CSOs), private sector partners, and the youth to champion the core values of transparency, accountability, citizen participation, and innovation in governance.

The OGP is a global initiative, and the Philippines is proud to be one of its eight founding members since its launch in 2011....