Koronadal City—Members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan signified on Monday their eagerness to approve the Freedom of Information Ordinance.
Vice Governor Vicente de Jesus said the FOI ordinance gives the public a chance for easy access to government information.
“We will have an ordinance institutionalizing FOI because this is a basis of public trust,” the Vice Governor said firmly.
Ester Catorce, Second District Board Member, said the FOI is a transparency program in place, empowering the people to participate in local governance.
The Committee on Education, Science and Technology, and Information Chairperson, who is also a practicing media practitioner herself, said the FOI clears fake news about government transactions.
The local version of South Cotabato’s FOI ensures the proactive disclosure of procurement documents available to the public.
“No request for information shall be denied,” the proposed ordinance stated.
Unless the reason for the request is contrary to law, existing rules and regulations or in the local inventory of FOI exceptions, the local version of the FOI further explained.
The Open Government team hopes to have an approved FOI ordinance before this year ends.
