Philippine EITI

Bantay Kita National Coordinator Beverly Besmanos concluded the Philippine Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (PH-EITI) webinar session for by recognizing the valuable insights shared by representatives from government, industry, and civil society organizations on May 21, 2026.

In her closing message, Besmanos emphasized the importance of open and accessible information in the mining and extractive industries to strengthen public trust and support informed decision-making.

“The true story of mining is not written in the spreadsheets of Manila. It is written in the landscapes of our host communities. It is written in the rivers that sustain our farmers, the ancestral domains of our Indigenous Peoples, and the daily lives of the families living on the frontline of environmental and social transformation,” Besmanos asserted.

Read the full story here: https://pheiti.dof.gov.ph/latest_pheiti_opengovweek2026/

Philgrassroots Executive Director Dr. Buenaventura Maata Jr. discussed how localized spaces and communities can help strengthen structured participation and community oversight through the Philippine Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (PH-EITI) subnationalization efforts during the webinar on May 21, 2026.

“Now, I think it’s the right time. The time is right for us to be able to pursue subnationalization. But I tell you, this really needs a lot of resources to be able to put them together once again,” Dr. Maata said, emphasizing both the readiness of Philippine communities for subnationalization and the need for sustained resources to support its implementation.

Read the full story here: https://pheiti.dof.gov.ph/latest_pheiti_opengovweek2026/

Director of Administration of the Sectoral Transparency Alliance on Natural Resource Governance in Cebu (STANCe) Chadwick Llanos highlighted how serves as an opportunity to recalibrate collaboration among government, industry, and civil society organizations toward greater transparency and accountability in the extractive sector during the PH-EITI webinar on May 21, 2026.

“The Open Government Week 2026 should not merely be a celebration of past commitments, but a bold recalibration of our governance trajectory. Transparency is simply the fuel. Participation, agency, and accountability are the agents,” Llanos expressed.

Read the full story here: https://pheiti.dof.gov.ph/latest_pheiti_opengovweek2026/

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Project Manager II Richard Villacorte emphasized the importance of localizing open government during the Philippine Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (PH-EITI) webinar for on May 21, 2026.

In his session, Villacorte presented an overview of the DILG’s Philippine Open Government Program, which promotes transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in local governance, including its possible linkages with PH-EITI subnationalization initiatives.

“Importante na magkaroon ng sustainability ‘yung ating mga progress at tsaka ‘yung mga reforms na ini-introduce natin sa local government units. Na hindi siya magiging activity based na ‘pagkatapos ng isang activity o project, tapos na,” Villacorte stated.

“We hope that the effects of localizing open government practices in LGUs will develop into a culture of governance where government units consistently uphold openness and participatory governance,” he added.

Read the full story here: https://pheiti.dof.gov.ph/latest_pheiti_opengovweek2026/

Philippine Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (PH-EITI) National Coordinator Mary Ann Rodolfo emphasized the importance of subnationalization in empowering local communities and advancing transparency and accountability during the PH-EITI webinar for Open Government Week on May 21, 2026.

“One important realization for PH-EITI is that transparency alone is not enough. Simply publishing reports does not automatically improve governance or accountability. Information only becomes meaningful when communities can actually understand it, discuss it, and use it in decision-making processes,” Rodolfo highlighted.

Read the full story here: https://pheiti.dof.gov.ph/latest_pheiti_opengovweek2026/

Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) Director Ricardo Bobis Jr. underscored the agency’s mandate to strengthen fiscal governance among local government units nationwide and highlighted the importance of transparency in extractive resource governance and community engagement during his opening remarks at the Philippine Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (PH-EITI) Open Government Week webinar on May 21, 2026.

“Transparency without localization is incomplete. Data without usability is simply information sitting in a server. And accountability without community participation is accountability in name only. This is why we look at the subnationalization initiative with genuine interest and support,” Dir. Bobis Jr. said.

Read the full story here: https://pheiti.dof.gov.ph/latest_pheiti_opengovweek2026/