What is Freedom of Information or FOI?

The Freedom of Information (FOI) Program is the Government’s response to the call for transparency and full public disclosure of information. FOI is a government mechanism, which allows Filipino citizens to request any information about government transactions and operations, provided that it shall not put into jeopardy – privacy and matters of national security.

The FOI mechanism for the Executive Branch is enabled via Executive Order No. 2, series of 2016.

What is eFOI?

The Freedom of Information (FOI) Program is the Government’s response to the call for transparency and full public disclosure of information. FOI is a government mechanism, which allows Filipino citizens to request any information about government transactions and operations, provided that it shall not put into jeopardy – privacy and matters of national security.

The FOI rules and exceptions also apply to the eFOI platform.

What is Executive Order No. 2 S. 2016?

Executive Order (EO) No. 2, s. 2016 is the enabling order for FOI. EO 2 operationalizes in the Executive Branch the People’s Constitutional right to information. EO 2 also provides the State policies to full public disclosure and transparency in the public service.

EO 2 is an important enabling mechanism to promote transparency in the government’s administrative process. Through FOI, citizens are empowered to make a formal request to get information held by the government, barring certain sensitive and important data related to the nation’s security. FOI complements continuing proactive information disclosure efforts where agencies are duty-bound to publish information in the spirit of openness and transparency.

FOI is an integral element of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s Good Governance Plan aligned to reforms and initiatives that pursue greater transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in governance. EO 2 was signed by the President on July 23, 2016.

Who oversees the implementation of EO 2?

The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) oversees the implementation and operationalization of the FOI Program pursuant to Memorandum Order No. 10, s. 2016 issued by the Office of the Executive Secretary. PCOO serves as the coordinator of all government agencies to ensure that the FOI Program is properly implemented.