The Caucus of Development NGO Networks (CODE-NGO) recently conducted a two-day FOI (Freedom of Information) National Conference last April 25-26, 2018 at B Hotel, Quezon City. The conference was attended by the project implementing partners from Coalition for Bicol Development (CBD), Central Visayas Network of NGOs (CENVISNET), Partnership of Philippine Support Service Agencies-Xavier University (PHILSSA-XU), Mindanao Coalition of Development NGO Networks-Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (MINCODE-CBCS) and the invited guest speakers: Atty. Michel Kristian Ablan – Assistant Secretary for Policy and Special Concerns and the Program Director of FOI, and Ms. Michelle Ariane Manza – FOI Lead Engagement from Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), Dir. Richard Villacorte – Program Director from Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Atty. Eirene Jhone Aguila – Co-Convener of the Right to Know Right Now Coalition representing the Non-Government Organizations advocating for open and accessible information in the Philippines.

The first day of the conference was dedicated for the project implementing partners to share their findings and unique experiences in gathering data and requesting information through online and offline activities from the concerned government agencies mentioned above. Four partners presented their research outputs comprised of their learning experiences and policy recommendations to improve the FOI implementation in the Philippines. During the open forum, Asec. Ablan responded to the issues presented by the participants and explained that these raw information from the research will be used to discuss the issues with the concerned agencies. One of the issues raised was the coverage of the PNP (Philippine National Police) FOI Manual, whether it covers regional and district offices. Asec. Ablan explained that the PNP FOI Manual should cover it and that PCOO envisions to cascade down the FOI Manual to the local agencies. He also mentioned that in 2017, PCOO’s aim was to implement FOI Manuals for the national government offices with 100% compliance, while this 2018 to 2019, they are focusing on implementing FOI Manuals for local and regional offices.

The second day of the conference was intended for the public forum dialogue with the other invited guests. Ms. Manza presented some updates of the PCOO efforts as they are currently conducting the FOI Caravan to raise FOI awareness and establish the FOI practice. Another speaker, Dir. Villacorte, emphasized the importance of localizing the FOI through a Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC). Since then, DILG has been working closely with the concerned agencies to realize this goal. On the other hand, Atty. Aguila explained that other members of the R2KRN Coalition also experienced the same observations of the project. She then emphasized the increasing demand for information which only means that there is also a growing need to enhance the FOI practice in the country. She shared that this practice will change the culture of government to have the initiative to give information and that a strengthened FOI will eliminate fake news because then, it will be much easier to verify information.

Participants were also given the opportunity to consult the government and non-government representatives on the implementation of FOI specifically those that are lacking in the operationalization of the EO (Executive Order) on FOI. Participants sought for a discussion on the localized FOI which will improve the open and accessible information campaign that shall empower the public at large. The proposed localized FOI was discussed among the government agencies in order to best serve the people in making information publicly available, widening the FOI practice and making the national and local government more accountable. Aside from voicing out the common concerns of the participants, they also synthesized the project findings and their main observations. The partners assessed the EO on FOI pertaining to the factors facilitating access to information/hindering factors to information, policies and  processes that need to be improved and the action beyond the EO on FOI. The essence of the assessment was to further look beyond the actions done and that all boils down to one, the passing of FOI Law and including it in the implementation and monitoring of the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) to make such implementation be more efficient.

The two-day conference gathered FOI Champions in both the government and the non-government sector to address the gaps and challenges to FOI. What resounded in the presentations and the exchanges between and among the participants and the speakers was the need to pass the FOI Law which will entail national and local government agencies to comply strictly with the FOI implementation. This FOI campaign does not merely widen the reach of the government to better provide information and be accountable enough to the people, it also makes more people be more informed and active in engaging the government agencies by providing evidence-based policy recommendations. Most importantly, this campaign builds up the accountability of the government and the trust of the people to the government.

Hennesy Ozawa is the Project Assistant of the EO on FOI Project.