From February 19 to 20, 2026, the Mayors for Good Governance (M4GG) successfully conducted Module 1 of the Leaders for Excellence and Public Service (LEAP) Open Government Fellowship Program. This initiative is designed to strengthen the capacities of local chief executives in practicing honest, transparent, and open governance.
The first module centered on introducing the core principles of the Open Government framework. It provided a collaborative platform for evaluating the current realities of the participating mayor-fellows’ local government units and facilitated the sharing of best practices. Furthermore, the sessions explored the strategic utilization of technology for effective administration and underscored the vital importance of upholding integrity in public service.
M4GG expresses its deepest gratitude to the distinguished individuals and organizations who contributed to the success of this event. We thank Noelle Agudelo, Political Advisor of the British Embassy Manila; Quezon City Mayor and M4GG Convenor Joy Belmonte; Program Facilitator Vice Mayor Eunice Babalcon; the CoST Infrastructure Transparency Initiative; Gelo Wong, Chief Growth Officer of Bayanichain; Joseph Andrew Mendoza, President and CEO of Stride Technologies Corp.; Al Adlawan, Director for Governance Initiatives of P3030 Inc.; Tarlac City Mayor Susan Yap; and Joseph Ian M. Canlas, Risk Consulting Leader at SGV and Co. We also reiterate our profound appreciation to the British Embassy Manila for their steadfast support of our shared advocacy to deepen good governance at the local level.
Above all, we commend the participating mayors who dedicated their time to this fellowship. May your commitment to continuous learning and transparent leadership serve as an inspiration to fellow public servants to always prioritize the welfare of the citizens they serve.
Module 1 pictures: Click here