President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. affirmed that open governance is key to attaining prosperity, stability, and security during the opening of the 2025 Open Government Partnership Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting in Taguig City.
The president also called for strong collaboration through impactful dialogues, concrete action, and genuine support.
In Central Luzon, national government agencies, civil society organizations, private sector, and the youth joined hands during the Dagyaw 2025 to prove that transparency and good governance begins with open dialogue between the government and citizens.
Dagyaw 2025: Where government actions and people’s voices come together
Dagyaw provided a safe and open space for citizens and government to discuss matters and issues to help improve the quality of government service and the overall development of the country. It was spearheaded by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) at the SM City Clark on October 29.
DILG Regional Director Araceli San Jose emphasized that the event signifies bayanihan in governance where the voices of the people and the actions of government come together for a more transparent, accountable, and participatory society.
“The word dagyaw comes from the Hiligaynon term meaning bayanihan or working together. It captures the very essence of this event: that meaningful change is only possible when every citizen is seen, heard, and empowered to take part in nation building,” she said.
She added that attendees including the youth, job seekers, entrepreneurs, and partners from government agencies, local government units, civil society organizations, and the private sector reaffirm that participatory governance is alive and thriving in the region.
In addition, San Jose underscored that this year’s Dagyaw took a more dynamic and inclusive approach with the integration of job fair and entrepreneurship sessions alongside the town hall dialogue.
“We move beyond discussions and translate engagement into real, tangible opportunities that link our people directly to employment, livelihood, and empowerment,” she stated.
The event focused on technical-vocational education to bridge the gap between education and industry, and ensure that the skills of the youth and workforce match the needs of the economy.
It was attended by about 500 youth who also benefited from the job fair participated by about 20 companies.
Communication and accountability: keys to real transformation
DBM Undersecretary for Media Affairs and Community Relations Goddes Hope Libiran shared that real transformation happens when people understand why and how government decisions are made. This sparks the need for clear, consistent, and compassionate communication.
“Communication is part of our job, and communicating where your taxes go is our job. You all need to know where your taxes go,” she stated.
She ensured that every reform introduced at the DBM focused on making every peso traceable, every process accountable, and every citizen empowered to see where their taxes are being used.
Addressing the youth attendees at the Dagyaw, Libiran pressed that the youth sector is not just the future, but the present of an open government.
“Every idea you raise today, every digital solution you imagine, every honest question you ask, these are the sparks that keep democracy alive. Be in government, meet your energy and innovation to sustain what we started because open government will only endure if it continues to evolve through you,” she said.
The youth, as agents of nation-building, should not just listen but also speak, ask, suggest, challenge, and participate on government affairs.
The youth as the dream, voices of hope
DBM Philippine Open Government Partnership Project Management Office Acting Director Jose Miguel Solis pressed that governance works best when done with people, especially the youth.
“You might be wondering, so what does open government have to do with the students, a job seeker, and a young change maker? The answer is everything, because open government is not just about policies and data; it’s about opportunities, fairness, and trust between government and its people. When government data is transparent, you know where your tax goes,” he shared.
He added that when the youth gets involved, change becomes real, from classrooms to communities.
With this, Solis encouraged young people to participate as they hold the key to building a government that is open, innovative, accountable.
“If you want change, you need to be part of the change. If you want to change the system, don’t be discouraged by the system… And so we are here, serving the government that once we criticized, and that’s also part of what open government is: to collaborate, to create solutions, and not just criticize one another,” he said.
The official stated that the youth sector should be curious, critical, and courageous on matters concerning the government.
One of the most valuable resources of the country is the youth sector. They are the current dreamers, the present doers, and the future workforce. They should be empowered, not threatened. They should be heard, not silenced.
By having them participate in dialogues and making the voices matter, the Philippines can usher in a Bagong Pilipinas that listens and cares, and thrives on collaboration and trust.(CLJD/JLDC, PIA 3-Pampanga)
