Executive order on FOI to be finished on Thursday.
The executive order on Freedom of Information (FOI) bill will be finished on Thursday according to Communications Secretary Martin Andanar.
In a text message sent to Philstar, Andanar said that executive order will be finished on Thursday, and will probably be signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday.
On Twitter, Andanar posted also a photo during a meeting with Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism Executive Director Malou Mangahas, Right to Know Right Now! Coalition co-convenor Nepomuceno Malaluan, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, and lawyers Mara Querol, Kris Ablan and Ryan Acosta.
“Hammering out the details of President Rody Duterte’s FOI EO on a holiday. Change is here!” he captioned the photo.
Through the FOI, the media and ordinary citizens will have an easier access to public documents and records that could make public officials more accountable. However, it is only applicable to executive branch.
Andanar also said that Malacañang legal teams are drafting the executive order that will require executive branch to publicize their projects and transactions.
President Duterte earlier said that if the congress will not pass the FOI bill, he will issue an executive order to implement the FOI.
“Kung ayaw ng Congress I will start progressively. Para walang satsat, walang yakyak, day one, basta pataas na, huwag na pabalik kasi magulo yan,” he said, according to Rappler.
Passing the FOI bill is one of the promises made by President Duterte during his campaign, aside from getting rid of corruption and criminality.