The Pasig City government on Wednesday received Freedom of Information (FOI) materials and collaterals which will be put on the city’s public library, as part of advocating the right to information through transparent public service and good governance.

Mayor Vico Sotto and Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Assistant Secretary Kristian Ablan earlier signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the implementation of the FOI program in the city.

Under the MOU, the city government is tasked to establish FOI kiosks for public consumption.

Meanwhile, Ablan, also the FOI program director, lauded Pasig City for becoming the first local government unit (LGU) in the National Capital Region (NCR) to pass an FOI ordinance.

“We’re very happy that Pasig City is the first LGU to be on our FOI website, we hope that other LGUs will also follow,” Ablan said during an “FOI sa Radyo” interview segment with Sotto.

Through Ordinance No. 2018-37 or “The Pasig Transparency Mechanism Ordinance” which was passed on Sept. 13, 2018, the city government has piloted the first FOI campus caravan at the Kapitolyo High School in Pasig with 600 student participants, with Sotto serving as guest speaker.

On the other hand, the city government has installed an FOI corner equipped with FOI-ready computers inside its public library, which can accommodate anyone who wishes to ask or request for various government information.

Residents are urged to utilize FOI platforms and information materials including brochures, briefers, and standees that can be found at the city’s public library.

The city government also established the “Ugnayan sa Pasig Unit” or Pasig City’s Public Participation, Accountability, and Transparency Unit on July 15, 2020.

The unit is tasked to lead the implementation of various FOI programs within the city as well as provide immediate, easy access to documents related to information on various government services, projects, and transactions.

It also encourages active public participation in crafting effective policies.

FOI Philippines is strengthening its efforts in improving public awareness on FOI programs.

The programs seek to encourage more Filipinos to exercise their right to access information in the pursuit of transparency in public service.

The FOI-Project Management Office (PMO) has already capacitated 537 registered librarians through conducting Continuing Professional Development (CPD) workshops.

Further, the FOI-PMO cited the Pasig city government as an “exemplary” Freedom of Information (FOI) advocate and a model of public service, transparency, and accountability in local government.

FOI Philippines encourages all LGUs to follow suit in the advocacy of Pasig City and 13 other LGUs that have their own FOI ordinance. (PNA)