President Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte has signed an executive order on the much-awaited Freedom of Information (FOI) that aims to promote transparency and accountability in government as well as encourage greater citizen participation and restore their trust in government, a Malacanang Palace official disclosed on Sunday.
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Six years is not enough for his predecessor to pass a measure on Freedom of Information (FOI), but in less than a month in office, President Rodrigo Duterte has come up with such decree – at least for the Executive branch.
“There was substantive pushing and pulling and additions to this executive order for a more transparent executive branch”, Andanar said in a press conference in Davao City yesterday.
Incoming Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III said the EO was good news because the executive branch holds from 60 to 70 percent of the government’s information.
Failure to comply would mean administrative charge and disciplinary sanction.
Except for reproduction costs, all requests will be free of charge, the EO said.
“At my end, I already refiled the consolidated version of FoI bill”, Almonte, who chaired the Public Information panel during the 16th Congress, said in an interview.
The EO covers all government offices under the executive branch, including departments, bureaus, government-owned or controlled corporations, and state universities and colleges.
Those who also indicated full support for a comprehensive legislation that brings freedom of information beyond the Executive were Senators Grace Poe, Ralph Recto, Kiko Pangilinan and Juan Edgardo Angara.
“Zarate is principal author of HB 334 or An Act to ensure public access to official records, documents and any other information of public concern”, which Bayan Muna first filed in 2004.
Andanar said copies of the “historic” EO with a number and the presidential seal would be available today.
“We urge in particular the House leadership to fast track the passage of a genuine FOI bill, one that will truly reflect the principles of full transparency in government and full accountability of government officials and employees”, Zarate said.
A list of information exempted from FOI is being drawn up, in accordance with laws and the Constitution.
But unlike Pedrosa, Barcenas agreed there should be exceptions, as the State should not divulge classified information involving national security or diplomatic confidential issues.
Under the EO, it is the right of every Filipino to have open access to information from all official government acts, transactions, or decisions.
“The most important fact here is the freedom of information is not only limited to the media but is inclusive to the rest of hundred million Filipinos who would want to extract and know vital information in running the government”, Andanar added.
Filipinos may request the information they need by submitting a written request to the government office concerned.
Cebu Ports Authority (CPA) general manager Edmund Tan, sought for comment, assured his office would abide with the FOI EO.
“There shall be a legal presumption in favor of access to information, public records and official records”, the order reads.
Access to information shall be denied when the information falls under any of the exceptions provided for in the 1987 Constitution. “Now, we are re-filing it for the 17th Congress”, Pangilinan said.
In the meantime, she said, the EO and other transparency initiatives, inclduing those “which have been recognized internationally” and past FOI bills, should be studied.
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The order was signed after several congresses failed to pass an FOI law, which advocates say is a requirement for good governance.
