(RTVM screengrab)

MANILA, (PIA) -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday has reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to champion the right to information that is paving the way for transparency, accountability, and empowered citizenship.

“I laud the ICIC for all its efforts in advancing the people’s right to access information, and in fostering a conducive and inclusive atmosphere for the healthy exercise of this universal human right… As a nation with a robust democracy, we reaffirm our commitment to champion this basic human right. It remains indelibly etched in our fundamental law,” Pres. Marcos said during the 14th International Conference of Information Commissioners (ICIC) in Pasay City.

The Philippines’ Freedom of Information – Program Management Office of the Philippines (FOI – PMO), an agency under the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), hosted the event attended by ICIC member countries from around the world.

“The Philippines stands in solidarity with the ICIC  and the entire international community in this advocacy,” the Chief Executive said. 

The President said the Philippines is “very honored” not only to have been selected as the host for this year’s event, but also having a “great distinction to be the first Southeast Asian nation to become part of the ICIC, and a founding member of Asia’s network of Access to Information Bodies.”

The Philippines, however, despite not having passed a Freedom of Information law, is the only Southeast Asisan country-member accredited by the ICIC in 2020, recognizing then President Rodrigo Roa Duterte's Executive No. 2 series of 2016 as a national policy on access to information.

For her part, PCO Secretary Cheloy Garafil said the Philippines’ hosting of the 14th edition of the ICIC is "a testament that the Philippine gov't recognizes access to information as a fundamental human right that must be upheld."

Founded in 2003, and has met regularly since then, the ICIC’s mission is to share knowledge and best practices, strengthen the capacity, and act as collective voice in international fora, in order to improve people’s access to public information and their ability to hold public bodies accountable.

Among the goals of the ICIC include the protection and promotion of access to public information; promotion of dialogue and mutual cooperation; and support the development and sharing of information and best practices, including peer learning among member states.

The ICIC also connects Information Commissioners, Ombudspersons and other bodies charged with overseeing the implementation of Access to Public Information legislation, in order to foster the protection and the promotion of access to public information as a fundamental pillar to social, economic and democratic governance.

In March 2019, the International Conference reached a milestone when it adopted its Governance Charter. The Charter was adopted by resolution on 13 March 2019. (PIA-NCR)