Staff of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) received comprehensive training from the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) on Freedom of Information (FOI) to boost the uniformed group’s information transparency.

In a statement on Friday, the PCG said the trainees were newly appointed FOI focal officers and non-officers of different PCG districts and units and will help the public exercise their right to access government information.

“Coast Guardians also had an intensive learning session on navigating the electronic FOI Portal that is necessary for upholding transparency in government information and managing information requests to ensure prompt responses,” it said.

Afterward, the new FOI personnel of the PCG took a comprehensive exam to gauge their understanding of the program.

The comprehensive training was administered by the PCO’s FOI – Program Management Office with help from the PCG Public Affairs Service on April 12 and 16 at the PCG national headquarters in Port Area, Manila.

In January, over a dozen bills on FOI were filed in the 19th Congress to create an enabling law on access to information.

The FOI bill aims to provide citizens with unimpeded access to official government records, documents, and research data — a full disclosure of government transactions. (PNA)