Andanar: Much to be learned on FOI practice as info requests pour in

After President Rodrigo Duterte signed his Executive Order on the Freedom of Information, the government has been flooded with requests for information, official records, and other public documents.

But, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar admitted on Sunday that there is still a lot more to learn before the administration could declare a "100 percent" compliance with the EO on FOI.

"Marami pong nagre-request and the requests are addressed to different departments of the land. Marami po, we have our own people under Assistant Secretary Kissinger Reyes who is in-charge of the FOI portal," said Andanar.

However, Andanar said he still does not have data on the bulk of information requests the government has received so far.

So far, he said, only 15 agencies are included in the "unang bugso"(first batch)  of agencies complying with the FOI order, for having assigned personnel to process the requests.

"So far it’s been good. But ... when we launched this, we did not say that it’s going to be 100-percent [compliant]. Marami pa pong learning curve dito sa FOI Executive Order since hindi pa ho lahat ng ahensiya ay naka-enroll dito at kasalukuyan pa rin ang training ng mga ibang ahensiya."

Further, he said that personnel of other regional offices still need training on how to implement the EO and the system created for it.

The EO states that all government offices under the executive branch are encouraged to observe and be guided by the order to enable every Filipino access to information, official records, and other public documents. 

Andanar earlier said any person who requests for information will write to the duly authorized personnel assigned by the head of the government agency and should get the requested information not longer than 15 days. 

Public officials are also reminded under the EO to make available their statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth for public scrutiny. 

Questions on the legality of the information requested, meanwhile, will be forwarded to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) to ensure it does not violate any laws. 

Likewise, the EO states that requests for access to information are free of charge unless the agency requires to “reimburse necessary costs, including actual costs of reproduction and copying of the information requested, subject to existing rules and regulations.” 

Any public official who fails to release the information upon compliance of the one who made the request will face administrative charges. —Mark Merueñas/LBG, GMA News