President Duterte to deliver first SONA with signed EO on FOI

Duterte signs Executive Order on Freedom of Information. (PCO photo)

MANILA—President Rodrigo Duterte is set to deliver his first state-of-the-nation-address (SONA) on Monday with a signed Executive Order on Freedom of Information (FOI) that would boost his promised anti-corruption campaign.

The Executive Order, mandating full public disclosure of all transactions in the offices under the executive department of government, was signed by the President on Saturday night in Davao City and will be sealed in Malacanang on Monday, according to Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar.

As provided in the 1987 Constitution, the EO aims to operationalize in the executive department the people’s constitutional right to information and the state policies of full public disclosure and transparency in the public service.

”The Executive Branch recognizes the urgent need to operationalize these Constitutional provisions,” the President stated in the EO.

The President said the Republic Act No. 10173 or known as Data Privacy Act of 2012 “strengthens the fundamental human right of privacy, and of communications while ensuring the free flow of information to promote and growth.”

The order shall cover 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 or –controlled corporations, and state universities and colleges.

Local government units (LGUs) are encouraged to observed and be guided by the executive order.

With the signing of the FOI, every Filipino shall have access to information, official records, public records and to documents and papers pertaining to official acts, transactions or decision, as well as to government research data used as basis for public-development.

The access to information, however, “shall be denied when the information falls under any of the exceptions enshrined in the Philippine Constitution, existing law or jurisprudence.”

Under the FOI, any person who request access to information shall submit a written request to the government office concerned with “free of charge.”

The government offices have 15 days to respond to the request. The period to respond, however, may be extended “whenever the information requested request extensive research.”

The Order provides that “no request for information shall be denied unless it clearly falls under any of the exceptions listed in the “updated” inventory of exceptions from the Office of the President.

”The determination of the applicability of any exceptions to the request shall be the responsibility of the Head of the Office,” stated in the EO.

According to the Order, failure to comply may be a ground for administrative and disciplinary actions against any erring public officer or employee.

Aside from anti-corruption drive, President Duterte is expected to report to the over 100 million Filipinos the government’s successful campaign against criminality and illegal drugs.

Malacanang has announced that President Duterte will also expound on his 10-point economic agenda including his administration’s comprehensive tax package.

Among the goals of the Duterte administration is the implementation of more infrastructure projects, both small and big, to ensure the sustained and more inclusive growth of the domestic economy.

These projects will be funded both by improved tax collection and borrowings.

Aside from the economic agenda, the President is also expected to discuss plans on how the current administration will proceed on its bid for a Federal type of government to be able to inform the public on their participation on this.

President Duterte was elected the country’s 16th President in the last May 9 elections, garnering more than 16 million votes.

In the Pulse Asia survey, President Duterte garnered a “big trust” rating of 91 percent.