DOJ gets FOI compliance award

FOI Certificate of Compliance of the Department of Justice. (Photo courtesy: DOJ Usec. Erickson Balmes/PNA photo)

MANILA — The Department of Justice is the latest government agency to be recognized for its compliance with the freedom of information (FOI) initiative of the Duterte administration.

This, as the agency received a FOI Certificate of Compliance for the year of 2017 from the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO).

This signifies that the DOJ is fully compliant with the requirements set forth by the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Harmonization of National Government Performance Monitoring Information and Reporting Systems (AO 25 Task Force).

This is in line with the Memorandum Circular No. 2017-1, Section 5, which specifies that the FOI Manual as defined by Executive Order No. 2, s. 2016 be uploaded in the agency Transparency Seal.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano N. Aguirre II said the recognition only validates the agency’s efforts and commitment towards transparency.

“We are very proud to have been informed of your DOJ’s compliance with all the requirements of the Freedom of Information as the same is measured by the PCOO’s comprehensive yardstick”, Aguirre said in a statement Tuesday.

The FOI Awards aims to recognize the notable contributions of government departments and attached agencies, including government-owned and/or controlled corporations, state universities and colleges, and local government units, to the growth of the FOI program.