Progress towards revenue transparency in the Philippines

The Philippines has established a multi-stakeholder group consisting of members from its government, extractives companies and civil society, tasked to oversee the implementation of the global EITI transparency standard in the country.

The establishment of this group follows President Aquino’s commitment to implement the EITI standard “as part of his social contract with the Philippine people” in July 2012.

The Philippines’ EITI multi-stakeholder group was formed at a national EITI workshop in Manila on 18-19 January, which confirmed broad national and international support for the Philippine EITI process.

The country’s mining and oil and gas extraction provide revenues to the national economy, but also lead to challenges. Secretary Cesar Purisima from the Department of Finance explained at the workshop that through the EITI the government is seeking to address a number of these challenges. It wants to use the EITI as a tool to encourage dialogue about sharing of the revenues with local levels of government and communities, the sector's sustainability, and how its extractive industries should be managed so that its resource extraction leads to wealth for all.

Over 170 delegates attended the full two days, including many cabinet secretaries, CEOs of companies, governors, representatives from local government and civil society, as well as members of the international community. The National Coordinator of the EITI in Mongolia, Mr Shah Tsolmon, and Timor Leste Secretary of State for Natural Resources, Mr Alfredo Pire,s also shared their experiences from their own implementation processes.

The Philippines EITI team, led by their National Coordinator Secretary Ms Bebet Gozun, assured the delegates at the workshop that they were working hard to finalise their application to the international EITI Board for EITI Candidate status.

Photo: The official inauguration of the Philippine MSG, by reading out a joint statement of commitment.