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Duterte signs order on Freedom of Information
President Rodrigo Duterte signs an executive order mandating full public disclosure of all offices under the executive branch
Patty Pasion
@pattypasion
Published 10:11 AM, July 24, 2016
Updated 5:12 PM, July 24, 2016
MANILA, Philippines (4th UPDATE) – President Rodrigo Duterte has signed an Executive Order mandating full public disclosure of all offices under the executive branch, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar announced Sunday, July 24.
Speaking in a press conference in Davao City, Andanar said Duterte signed his second EO on Saturday, July 23, at 7 pm – two days ahead of his first State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Andanar said that the draft of the EO had just been finalized by the Presidential Legal Counsel on Saturday night and that there was "no plan of timing of signing it yesterday."
Provisions and coverage
The directive covers "all government offices under the executive branch including, but not limited to, the national government and all its offices, departments, bureaus, offices and instrumentalities including government-owned and -controlled corporations, state universities and colleges."
Local government units are also encouraged to "observe and be guided by this order," according to the EO.
The order also detailed that information refers to "any records, documents, papers, reports, letters, contracts, minutes and transcripts of official meetings, map, books, photos, data, research materials, films, sound and video recording (magnetic or other tapes), electronic data computer store data or similar data or materials recorded stored or archived."
The law also "reminds" public officials to file their Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) and make it available for public scrutiny.
Exceptions
Filipinos may request for needed information through a letter of request sent to the concerned office along with a valid proof of identity.
No person requesting for information shall be denied access unless the information sought "falls under any of the exception enshrined in the constitution existing law or jurisprudence," the EO stated.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) and Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) must provide a list of exceptions to be submitted to the Office of the President within 30 calendar days from the effectivity of the EO.
The DOJ and the OSG will also serve as the oversight bodies that will decide on requests for information that may affect national security.
If the request clearly does not fall under the exceptions identified, the office concerned should grant and release the request within 15 days, the EO stated.
Heads of agencies and officers who fail to abide by the EO will face administrative cases, Andanar said.
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“YESTERDAY IS HISTORY, TOMORROW A MYSTERY, AND TODAY
A GIFT…THAT’S WHY IT IS CALLED THE PRESENT “.
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