MANILA, Philippines — More than 100 local chief executives under the Mayors for Good Governance (M4GG) have renewed their commitment to transparent, accountable and people-centered leadership, putting responsible management of public funds and stronger citizen participation at the center of their governance agenda.
The commitment was reaffirmed during the M4GG 3rd Anniversary Good Governance Summit and General Assembly held on August 22, 2026, at the Diamond Hotel Manila.
The gathering brought together M4GG convenors, members, partners and resource persons for discussions on leadership, public service and the continuing push to strengthen good governance at the local level.
Mayors reaffirm five key commitments
The summit concluded with a Commitment Ceremony, where participating mayors renewed their pledge to put the welfare of their constituents first, manage public resources responsibly, encourage citizen participation, uphold the rule of law, and lead with integrity and transparency.
M4GG Chairperson and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin “Benjie” Magalong underscored that promoting good governance remains difficult, particularly when public officials who abuse power can appear stronger than those who choose to follow the rules.
“Good governance is not an aspiration. It is a standard,” Negros Occidental Third District Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez said during the gathering.
From promises to public accountability
The coalition’s renewed commitment comes alongside several initiatives aimed at making local governance more transparent.
Among these is REPORT INFRA, a mechanism launched by M4GG that allows citizens and stakeholders to flag suspected ghost, overpriced or substandard infrastructure projects.
The group has also pushed for greater public access to national budget information and supported increasing the Local Government Support Fund to ₱57 billion, according to reports from GMA News and the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
M4GG has likewise engaged with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to discuss ways of improving the implementation of social welfare programs at the local level. In February 2026, DSWD said 29 mayors participated in a dialogue with Secretary Rex Gatchalian concerning national social protection programs and their implementation in local communities.
A movement that crosses political lines
Founded in August 2023, M4GG describes itself as a nonprofit movement of local chief executives from different political parties, regions and ideological backgrounds who share a commitment to fighting corruption and promoting transparent, accountable and people-centered governance.
The latest summit featured several prominent local leaders, including Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, Isabela City Mayor Sitti Hataman, and Baguio City Mayor Benjie Magalong.
The movement has also expanded its leadership-development efforts. Earlier in 2026, M4GG conducted the LEAP Open Government Fellowship Program, designed to help first-term mayors develop skills in integrity, innovation, transparency, participatory governance and data-driven leadership.
Why the renewed pledge matters
The latest commitment comes as transparency and accountability remain major issues in Philippine public governance, particularly surrounding the use of government funds and infrastructure spending.
M4GG had previously called for greater transparency in infrastructure projects, including the disclosure of project information amid concerns over alleged irregularities in flood-control projects. In 2025, members of the movement publicly demanded greater accountability and transparency regarding flood-control spending.
The coalition’s latest move therefore goes beyond another leadership gathering: it places the responsibility for good governance directly on local officials and emphasizes that public trust must be supported by concrete actions.
For M4GG, the challenge now is turning the renewed pledge into measurable results—especially in how local governments spend public money, disclose information, involve citizens and respond to allegations of irregularities.
The message from the summit was clear: transparency cannot simply be a promise. It has to be visible in how government operates.
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