Image Source: Official Gazette
Democracy Watch advocates for strategic policy reforms and citizen-led initiatives towards a development-oriented system of democratic governance that is just, transparent, and accountable.
In the pursuit of its objectives, Democracy Watch lauds President Rodrigo Duterte’s initiative to issue an Executive Order implementing the provisions of the Freedom of Information Bill within the Executive Department.
The impending Executive Order sends a strong message on the need for transparency and accountability in all government agencies in all branches of government, including the Legislative and Judicial Branches.
As we continue to see daily manifestations of a deeply rooted system of corruption, we call on the President to certify as urgent the passage of the Freedom of Information law. A meaningful government reform initiative such as the Freedom of Information law will:
- enable its citizens to access information on government transactions and dealings that of public interest;
- ensure transparency in all dealings of the government except those that concern national security or those done in executive session;
- regulate access to information without curtailing the civil and political rights of the Filipino People; and
- institutionalize reforms particularly in the procurement system
Democracy Watch believes that transparency is a key principle in ensuring good governance. And so while we support the initiative of the president, we maintain that institutionalizing a Freedom of Information Regime through legislation is still the most sustainable and robust way to guarantee its consistent and meaningful implementation.