CEBU CITY, Cebu, Dec. 6 (PIA) -- Since its inception in 2016, the Freedom of Information (FOI) marked its fifth year of implementation with a summit held in Cebu on Nov. 23.
The summit, led by the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), is unlike any other events held in the past years.
With the theme, “Revisiting, reinventing the milestones, the future”, PCOO Sec. Martin Andanar, in a virtual message, said the 2021 FOI Summit marks the “culmination of the long, arduous fight that we keep battling on despite countless setbacks and delays all in the spirit of advocating for an open, transparent, and accountable governance.”
He shared how it has already been over three decades of advocating for the passage of the FOI law.
“A law encompassing all branches of the government to open itself up; every nook and cranny to public scrutiny to improve trust and deter corrupt practices at all levels of the government,” he added.
Andanar said the PCOO was given the important task of pioneering this new program of the government under the Duterte administration.
“Having realized then its significance given my media background and profession, it was a challenge accepted,” the PCOO chief said.
He lauded the team headed by Usec. Kris Ablan, the FOI Project Management Office, in doing above and beyond of what is not only demanded but also what is necessary at any given time.
Addressing Ablan, Andanar said, “Your team's commitment and dedication in carrying out our mandate is a clear testament to the vision of this administration in ensuring a people-centered clean and efficient governance."
“We cannot and must not wait for things to get better until we do something. Our work requires us to be quick and agile to take action and quick and fast, we did. I do hope that you have felt the extent to which the entire PCOO, FOI team prepared for that with conviction and a sense of urgency sa ngalan ng serbisyong publiko,” he added.
With this fight for the passage of the FOI law far from over, Andanar hopes they would be able to take another giant leap for the FOI advocacy to grow and flourish; this time much better and stronger knowing they have the full backing and generous support of the people.
“You have my assurances that as you carry on the good work, we will continue ours, keeping our side of the bargain as your allies in the government,” assured Andanar.
“The future is clear. The only way is forward. We have seen how information can save lives. We have witnessed its power beyond measure. It is high time that we acknowledge its rich, vast, untapped potential in empowering our kapwa Juan and Juana dela Cruz and more importantly, in strengthening the functioning of our democracy. The very thing which lies at the core of what we do,” he added.
Other speakers present during the blended summit are Philippine Information Agency Director-General Usec. Ramon Cualoping III; FOI Program Director Usec. Kristian Ablan; Atty. Eirene Jhone Aguila, co-convenor of the Right to Know, Right Now! Coalition; Atty. Rona Ann Caritos, executive director of the Legal Network for Truthful Elections; Kenneth Isaiah Abante, fellow and head of Practice, WeSolve; and David Fricker, president of the International Council on Archives. (IDC/PIA7)
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