Dumaguete Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo assured on Friday of transparency in his administration as he welcomed President Duterte’s signing of an executive order on Freedom of Information (FOI).
Lawyer Remollo, who supported Duterte’s bid for the Presidency, however, stressed there should be guidelines in place to put in order the requests for and subsequent releases of government documents.
The Dumaguete Mayor said he welcomes and supports the FOI executive order of the President, saying, “there is nothing to hide”.
Even if the President did not yet pass the EO, Remollo disclosed he had planned to give instructions to City Department heads to be “more accommodating” to requests for public documents, “but of course, with certain exceptions”.
According to him, not all government documents are for public scrutiny, especially where national security is concerned, therefore, it is imperative to have the exceptions clearly stated.
The Department of Justice and the Office of the Secretary General are given 30 days from effectivity of the Order to come up with a list of exceptions, and to submit it to the Office of the President, Remollo noted.
President Duterte had signed the FOI executive order mandating full public disclosure of all offices under the executive branch, but which also encouraged local government units “to observe and be guided by this Order”.
The EO is a mandate for “all government offices under the executive branch, including but not limited to, the national government and all its offices, department, bureaus, offices and instrumentalities including government-owned and —controlled corporations, state universities, and colleges”.
Covered by the Order are “any records, documents, papers, reports, letters, contracts, minutes and transcripts of official meetings, maps, books, photos, data, research, materials, films, sound and video recordings (magnetic or other tapes), electronic data and other materials recorded, stored or archived”.
Meanwhile, a cross sector of the Dumaguete community issued their thoughts and sentiments on President Duterte’s signing of the FOI executive order.
Atty. Joel Obar, national chair of Hugpong Federalismo which pushes for the President’s federalization program, described the executive order as “still insufficient but certainly a breakthrough”.
“Besides, the culture of secrecy in all branches and agencies of government is difficult to break with or without an FOI. Nonetheless, at least Digong displayed his transparency,” the lawyer pointed.
“At the end of the day, persistence and continued vigilance of the people and the media must be pursued; the executive FOI could be a weapon to pursue that purpose,” Obar said.
The Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce & Industry, meanwhile, “welcomes the historic and landmark EO on FOI as a breakthrough in our advocacy and dream for full transparency and accountability in all government agencies,” said its president Edward Du.
“We believe the EO will make the Philippines more attractive to local and foreign investors who need accurate, updated, and easy/free access to government data, especially socio-economic,” Du added.
For her part, Carol Constantino, acting OIC of the Department of Foreign Affairs-Regional Consular Office, said the FOI may be used as a “springboard for a national identity card”.
“If government is required to be transparent, why can’t everyone be transparent? Then we can dispense with the passport requirements,” said Constantino.
The DFA-RCO is among the national government agencies that have an office in Dumaguete.
From the private sector, businesswoman Chari Katigbak said she wants to see the FOI passed in Congress.
“While the signed EO is a landmark action in the long fight for FOI, advocates still push for its legislation in Congress since the measure only covers offices under the executive branch,” she pointed out.
Katigbak, who is also an expert in the communications field, said she concurs with the statement of the FOI Youth Initiative that “embodies her opinion of the EO in its totality”.
The FOI Youth Initiative said in a statement: “We hope this new administration will continue to pursue the enactment of a complete FOI Law through legislation, with provisions requiring access to particular documents and data in all levels of government, penalties for public officials and employees who deny such access, and other components that will truly guarantee transparency, accountability, and people’s participation.”
Katigbak further said she applauds the President’s action on the FOI issue, describing it as “an example of what I expect from this administration — transparency and accountability from all government employees elected, appointed, and career.”
She said she eagerly awaits this administration’s “vigorous push” for the bill’s passage into law.
From the media sector, news reporter and radio disc jockey Mike Ramo welcomed the FOI executive order saying it is a good start, and that “the executive [branch] is leading the way. When will the legislative follow suit?”
Dumaguete Press Club Inc. President Juancho Gallarde expressed optimism that with the FOI in place, it will make “our stories saleable and truthful in the sense that we will be able to [help]flush out wrongdoings in government.”
Gallarde emphasized the FOI ought to be legislated, and in the meantime, the EO should be implemented as soon as possible, lest the “bad or defective records might be doctored”. (PNA)
