To Ambassador Celia Anna “Cookie” Feria;
Heads and Representatives of Department of Foreign Affairs, Government Procurement Policy Board, Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary for Finance and Administration, Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary for Support Services, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Tourism Promotions Board, Procurement Service – DBM, and Office of the Director-General for Operations;
My esteemed colleagues;
A pleasant afternoon to all of us. Welcome to DBM!
Assalamu alaikum wa Raḥmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
First, allow me to thank you for attending our first Committee Meeting in preparation for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in 2026. Your presence here today speaks volumes of your commitment to accelerating economic, social, and cultural development across the ASEAN and promoting peace and stability within the region and beyond.
The Philippines as chair of the ASEAN Summit will emphasize our role as a founding member of one of the most successful inter-governmental organizations in the world, for which we must step up to the challenge of being a leader among nations.
Last March 2024, the President issued Administrative Order No. 17, institutionalizing the creation of a National Organizing Council (NOC) for this high-level gathering. We have our work cut out for us—to organize, manage, supervise, and fund all major and ancillary programs, activities, and projects related to the country’s hosting of ASEAN 2026.
As we know, the ASEAN Summit is the highest policy-making body of the bloc, comprising the Heads of State or Government of Member States. The biannual ASEAN Summit Meetings will provide a platform to deliberate and decide on important matters of interest to the association and our region in general.
Taking the helm of such a significant event is no small feat. In fact, Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin even described the preparations for it as a "gargantuan task." But the Philippines has consistently proven that no challenge is too great when we come together, bound by a shared vision and purpose.
I am happy to share the example of our recent hosting of the 2025 Open Government Partnership (OGP) Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting just two weeks ago. We are grateful for the opportunity to lead the conference to advance our agenda of promoting transparent, participatory, inclusive, and accountable governance in the Asia-Pacific and beyond.
We successfully engaged almost 800 delegates, conducted around 60 sessions comprising side events, plenaries, and breakouts, and mobilized over 60 organizations to pull off the most dynamic, fruitful, and memorable OGP Regional Summit!
At this summit, our New Government Procurement Act (NGPA), signed into law by PBBM, was also recognized as a prime example of game-changing reforms in the region, highlighting our steadfast commitment to good governance.
Its most salient features include open contracting, beneficial ownership information declaration, digitalization, inclusive procurement, and participatory processes. And just last Monday, February 10, we published the NGPA’s Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), ensuring that this law is not only passed but truly implemented.
I mention this to emphasize that for ASEAN 2026, you can leverage the law’s key features to fulfill our mandate effectively: ensuring budget approval and timely release, addressing procurement requirements for all activities, and coordinating with all committees to meet their financial needs. And you might want to hold one side meeting on Open Government Partnership.
The road ahead is demanding, but we have the vision, the resources, and the collective resolve to make ASEAN 2026 a resounding success.
Let us ensure that every peso serves its purpose, every procurement process is transparent, and every decision upholds the highest standards of integrity and accountability as we ensure that ASEAN 2026 will be the best and most memorable ASEAN Summit ever.
May this meeting be both productive and instrumental to achieving our goals. I call on each of you to bring your expertise, dedication, and leadership to the table as we work together to strengthen our international relations and enhance regional cooperation.
Maraming salamat po, and now let’s all get to work!
Wabillahi Tawfiq Wal Hidaya, Wasalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu.
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