ZAMBOANGA CITY, Oct 20 (PIA) – The national government is calling on local government chief executives and officials to pass their own Freedom of Information (FOI) ordinances “to put into effect the people’s Constitutional Right to Access Information at the local level”, and to attend an FOI online conference on November 5.

The FOI is one of the legacies of the Duterte Administration, said Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar, which aims to promote more transparency in government transactions and services.

In a letter, PCOO Undersecretary Atty. Kristian Ablan said there are currently 58 LGUs who have already passed their local FOI ordinances.

The PCOO will be conducting an FOI Conference for Mindanao LGUs on November 5, 2021, 1PM via Zoom. Usec. Ablan said the conference “aims to share the best practices of LGUs implementing their FOI Program and encourage more LGUs to follow suit”.

He stresses the need for local officials to attend this conference and learn further about the FOI.

Participants must fill out the registration form via bit.ly/Register_LGUConference2021. The Zoom link details will be sent to those who registered via this link.

LGUs that have queries may coordinate with Valeria Valenzuela via mobile number 09151477717, Usec. Ablan added.  (RVC/DIS/PIA9-Zamboanga City)