Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian emphasizes the power of children’s voices in shaping a more open, inclusive, and transparent government as he actively answers questions from children-participants during an Open Government session held at Luxent Hotel in Quezon City on Thursday (May 22).

Carrying the theme, “Making Spaces: Children Driving Change for Open Governments,” the session featured a panel discussion where over 30 children from different sectors were able to connect and raise their queries to various officials from the government and the private sector.

The event is part of the celebration of Open Gov Week in the Philippines from May 19-23 aimed at advancing the values of transparency, accountability, citizen participation, and innovative governance.

Other panelist who also joined the discussion were Secretary Amenah Pangandaman of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM); Undersecretary Angelo Tapales of the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC); Assistant Secretary Georgina Hernandez of the Department of Education (DepEd); Asst. Secretary Josephine Cabrido-Leysa of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG); and Deputy Representative for Programme Maya Faisal of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). # (LSJ)