TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNANCE: THE INFLUENCE OF OPEN DATA ON PUBLIC TRUST IN PHILIPPINE CONTEXT

<ns3:p>Transparency in governance plays a critical role in strengthening democratic accountability and enhancing public trust, particularly in developing democracies such as the Philippines. The expansion of open data initiatives reflects government efforts to improve transparency, promote citizen engagement, and reinforce institutional legitimacy. However, public trust in government remains a significant concern despite these transparency reforms. This study examined the influence of open data transparency on public trust in government within the Philippine context, guided by Institutional Theory, Transparency Theory, and Trust Theory. Using a quantitative descriptive-correlational design, data were collected from 400 respondents representing citizens, government personnel, civil society members, and academic stakeholders. A structured instrument measured key dimensions of open data transparency, including accessibility, usability, reliability, and institutional openness, as well as dimensions of public trust such as competence, integrity, and accountability. Findings revealed that both open data transparency and public trust were perceived at moderate levels. Statistical analysis demonstrated a strong and significant positive relationship between open data transparency and public trust (r = .68, p &lt; .001), with transparency significantly predicting trust levels and explaining a substantial proportion of variance. Among the dimensions, data reliability and institutional openness were the strongest predictors of trust. The study concludes that strengthening open data transparency can significantly enhance public trust and institutional legitimacy. Improving data accessibility, quality, and organizational transparency is essential for reinforcing democratic governance and fostering greater citizen confidence in government.</ns3:p>