Koronadal City, Philippines – The Province of South Cotabato is poised to showcase its innovative practices in transparency and citizen participation on the global stage, as Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo, Jr., presents the province’s Open Government Partnership (OGP) initiatives at an international forum in Spain.
Governor Tamayo will depart for Spain on October 5, 2025, to represent South Cotabato and present its Open Government Partnership (OGP) initiatives at the international forum.
“The provincial government has established stringent checks and balances, adding multiple layers of oversight to ensure that irregularities are detected and prevented,” the governor shared.
(Dito tinitiyak ko sa ating Local Government Unit, kahit papaanu lahat ng check in balance, subrang dami ng redundancy to make sure na talagang hindi makakalusot anu mang anumalya meron).
Tamayo said, “This is also what we want to see practiced at the National Government level — that there must be enough redundancy to ensure that corruption has no place.”
(Pweding gawin dito sa ating lalawigan at yun din ang gusto nating gawin sa National Government na dapat ito ang dapat yung redundancy to make sure na wala talagang Curroption).
South Cotabato’s presentation will highlight governance practices that uphold integrity, ensure transparency, and strengthen public accountability.
Meanwhile, the governor is expecting to create more opportunities for South Cotabateños and serve as models that other countries can adopt in advancing open governance.
“South Cotabato is the only province where monitoring redundancies reaches three, and sometimes even four layers, to ensure strict oversight of projects,” he noted.
(Believe it or not, Dito sa South Cotabato, this is the only province na ang redundancy is umaabot ng tatlo, apat pa minsan para mamonitor ang mga proyekto).
These efforts, the official noted, strengthen investors’ confidence and build stronger linkages with government partners both in the Philippines and abroad.
The governor underscored the active role of civil society organizations, which he considers one of the province’s strengths.
“The private sector is also involved to ensure, validate, and review not only infrastructure projects but also the bidding of supplies,” the Governor added.
(upod man diri ang mga private sektor para masikyar, mavalidate, review hindi lang ang mga infrastructure projects mangin man ang mga bidding sang mga supplies).
Meanwhile, the Open Government Partnership provides a platform for South Cotabato to showcase its governance practices that promote transparency and accountability, helping the province attract new opportunities and partnerships at both the national and international levels.
He emphasized that the Open Government Partnership (OGP) is a global initiative that unites governments worldwide in advancing transparency, accountability, and citizen participation.
South Cotabato, he noted, is among the first local government units in the Philippines to join the partnership, positioning the province as a pioneer in open governance at the local level.
