Last Sunday, Presidential Communications Office Sec. Martin Andanar announced that President Duterte has signed the executive order (EO) on the Freedom of Information (FOI). President Duterte signed the rule two days before he delivered his first State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Secretary Andanar said that a copy of the EO on the FOI is already in their hands. He added that the President started working on the executive order since his first day of service. Sec. Andanar also pointed out that a number of meaningful pushing and pulling matters were added in order to make the EO a clearer executive branch of the government.
The order issued by the president states that all offices under the executive branch should observe and follow the order to let every Filipino own access to information such as official records and some other public documents. Moreover, local government offices are also encouraged to do the same.
The EO covers “all government offices under the Executive Branch, including but not limited to the national government and all its offices, departments, bureaus, offices, including government-controlled corporations, and state universities and colleges.”
Sec. Andanar explained that process of getting information but also pointed out some exemptions that will place the government at risk in terms of national security.
The first resolution for the FOI was passed by the late senator Raul Roco 29 years ago as House Bill 498.
See copy of the EO here
