MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon (PIA)—Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin M. Andanar said adopting the rules on Freedom of Information (FOI) will increase reportage of corruption as it will facilitate the right of access to governmental information.
“Transparency is our most powerful weapon in the fight against corruption. Fostering the Freedom of Information is a big step toward strengthening President Rodrigo Duterte’s war against corruption as this boosts information sharing meant to enhance accountability in government’s acts, transactions, and decisions,” the Communications Secretary said during the Bukidnon leg of the 2021 Transparency Roadshow, Tuesday.
Andanar emphasized that FOI is the President’s Executive Order No. 2 signed in 2016 during his 1st month in office.
In essence, he said, a major obstacle to good governance is the entrenched lack of accountability within the government. “Thus, the FOI initiative not only prevents corruption by showing where people's taxes go but also empowers all Filipinos to participate in government affairs,” the Secretary briefly said.
He cited FOI’s help in strengthening the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) and the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission’s goal of reducing government red tape and corruption.
“Transparency and accountability, particularly in government, have never been more alive in the Philippines, and it is only under the Duterte Administration that we have put forward such a cause, as part of our fight against all forms of corruption,” he added.
To highlight the FOI program’s progress, Secretary Andanar, Krizia Casey Avejar of the FOI Project Management Office, and Bukidnon State University President Dr. Oscar Cabañelez signed a Memorandum of Understanding to integrate FOI into the university’s curriculum.
PCOO also provided library materials designed to aid librarians and faculty in influencing, networking, and leading the campus-wide use of FOI as a tool for academic research.
“May all of you continue to support the PCOO and the Duterte Administration in our activities, such as this Roadshow, as we continue the drive to end corruption,” Andanar said.
The Transparency Roadshow primarily discussed the Task Force on Zero Hunger, FOI, Duterte Legacy, and the government's responses to COVID-19 with the local chief executives, national government agencies, academe, information officers, multi-sectoral representatives, and the media. It also focused on the all-encompassing campaign of the President's achievements on the key three pillars of peace and order, infrastructure, and poverty alleviation.
Northern Mindanao executives who joined in the event were National Housing Authority Regional Manager Engr. Rolando Teves, Department of Social Welfare and Development Regional Director Mari-Flor Dollaga, the Mayors, 403rd Infantry 'Peacemaker' Brigade Commander BGen. Ferdinand Barandon, and Bukidnon Police Director Col. Jun Mark Lagare. (RLRB/PIA-10/Bukidnon)
