The Mayors for Good Governance (M4GG) movement has forged a strategic partnership with the UK government to strengthen good governance and promote transparency across the Philippines.
The collaboration was formalized on Friday, February 6, 2026, at the British Embassy in Taguig City, where M4GG convenors and youth partners were welcomed by British Ambassador to the Philippines Sarah Hulton OBE.
For M4GG, this partnership represents a significant step toward empowering local chief executives—who serve on the front lines of government—and instilling principles of integrity in the next generation.
Ambassador Hulton emphasized the shared commitment to ethical leadership and transparent governance during the launch.
“The UK is proud to support local leaders who are championing transparency, accountability and citizen participation at community level. We look forward to working with M4GG to advance good governance across the Philippines.” Ambassador Hulton said.
Baguio City Mayor and M4GG convenor Benjie Magalong highlighted that the partnership is built on a shared vision for rebuilding public trust in the government.
“We are deeply grateful to Ambassador Hulton and the U.K. government for standing with us,” Magalong said. “This partnership validates the critical role of local governments in fostering national progress. By empowering our mayors, we strengthen the very foundation of good governance in our country.”
The partnership will allow M4GG to operationalize key programs designed to equip mayors with the tools to implement open government reforms. Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, a convenor of M4GG, stressed that local executives are the most visible faces of the government at the grassroots level.
“Mayors are at the frontlines of public service. When we govern with transparency and accountability, we don’t just deliver better services; we rebuild the public’s trust in government,” Belmonte said. “This collaboration will help us professionalize that approach and share best practices across more localities.”
Through this support, M4GG will launch the Leaders for Excellence and Public Service (LEAP) Open Government Fellowship Program. The program focuses on open government—a governing doctrine that holds that citizens have the right to access government documents and proceedings to enable effective public oversight and reduce the risk of corruption.
Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto highlighted the need to institutionalize these reforms to ensure they outlast any single administration.
“Good governance should not be an exception; it must be the standard for all public servants. Through this partnership, we are investing not just in current leaders, but in the systems that ensure continuity,” Sotto said. “We are also engaging the youth because we want them to inherit and protect these standards.”
To engage the younger generation, M4GG is organizing the “Tayo ang GoodGov Generation” Public Forum. The movement has partnered with the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) Awards Foundation Inc. to visit academic institutions across the country, creating a platform for the Filipino youth to discuss their role in nation-building. Paolo Calalang, President of the TAYO Awards Foundation Inc., joined the M4GG convenors to represent the youth sector.
The partnership also covers the M4GG Caravan, which includes specialized workshops to facilitate peer-to-peer mentoring among local leaders.
Established in 2023, the M4GG coalition aims to combat corruption and ensure that local governments serve the best interests of their constituents. The movement is led by Baguio City Mayor Benjie Magalong, Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, and Mayor Sitti Hataman of Isabela City, Basilan.