Advocates laud Duterte's FOI pronouncement, but want provision clarified

A coalition of Freedom of Information advocates has welcomed incoming President Rodrigo Duterte’s initiative to issue an executive order on FOI on Monday, even as it suggested a clarification on the interpretation of the provision on the 15-day response to requests.

The Right to Know, Right Now! Coalition, which has been pushing for the passage of the FOI Act for 15 years, said in a statement that a carefully crafted EO on FOI can help address administrative hurdles to public access to information in the Executive Department.

Duterte’s EO on FOI can also promote easy and uniform access to information from the Executive Department, the coalition said.

“A progressive EO on FOI will serve as a strong confidence building measure for the Duterte administration, especially if coupled with credible support for legislation by Congress of an FOI law that applies equally to all branches of government and to independent constitutional bodies, lays down narrow exceptions, and defines penal provisions, that cannot be covered by an Executive Order,” the statement wrote.

But the coalition specifically wants the incoming administration to clarify the interpretation of the 15-day response to request provision of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees to mean actual release of requested information.

The coalition also said the Duterte administration should consult key stakeholders on its plans for the FOI Act.

“The coalition is ready to actively and constructively participate in such a consultation, through our designated representatives,” it said.

Duterte, in an interview with reporters after the elections, said that he will an issue an EO on the implementation of the proposed FOI provisions for the executive branch on the first day of his administration.

"Kung ayaw ng Congress, I will start with this progressively. Para walang satsat, walang yakyak, Day One, Freedom of Information, I will impose it on my department, the executive department," Duterte told reporters in an interview.

"Unahan ko na. I will issue an executive order. Hindi na kailangan ng batas.... Media and everybody else is welcome to dig deep into the papers," he added. —Trisha Macas/JST, GMA News