Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Acting Secretary Dave Gomez on Monday pushed for the passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill that “meets global standards and empowers democracy.”

During the opening ceremony for the 2025 International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI), Gomez said the Marcos administration envisions a government that is “not only for the people but also with the people” under a “New Philippines.”

Gomez, however, acknowledged that more needs to be done to fulfill the government’s bid to institutionalize the FOI Program.

“A government that listens, informs, and empowers its citizens. Because only with an informed citizenry can we build a truly democratic nation,” he said.

“This week, we heard the voices of Filipinos loudly calling, clamoring for an FOI Law—I take this opportunity to urge our lawmakers, civil society leaders, and fellow public servants to come together in finally enacting the Right to Information Bill for the Philippines, one that upholds global standards and empowers our democracy,” Gomez added.

Gomez noted that over the past nine years, various efforts have been made to counter misinformation and disinformation through the provision of credible and accessible public data.

These efforts include the establishment of the eFOI portal, expanded localization initiatives, and the launch of nationwide capacity-building programs.

Gomez said PCO, together with the Philippine Open Government Partnership (PH-OGP), has initiated dialogues with stakeholders to refine and advance the proposed Right to Information Bill.

“We continue to empower our local governments to become FOI-ready—bringing FOI closer to every Filipino,” he said. “I extend my heartfelt appreciation to the entire PCO team for their hard work and dedication to advancing the program and promoting a culture of transparency and accountability in the Philippine government.”

The Philippines is the first country in Southeast Asia to host this year’s IDUAI, which runs until Sept. 30.

With the theme, “Ensuring Access to Environmental Information in the Digital Age,” IDUAI serves as a platform for stakeholders to participate in international discussions on policies related to access to information in the digital era.

Gomez also received the symbolic token from Genevieve Shirley Lartey, International Commissioner and Executive Secretary of the Right to Information Commission of Ghana, marking the formal kick-off of the event.

He expressed optimism that the two-day global conference will serve as a catalyst for strengthening the shared commitment to institutionalizing “genuine” access to information for the people.

“For me, this token is not only a marker of hosting—it is a reminder of the legacy our President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wants to leave behind, a legacy that ensures access to information is protected, strengthened, and lived by every Filipino citizen,” Gomez said.

“We extend our gratitude to Ghana for their dedicated leadership and for so gracefully passing the torch to the Philippines. Your efforts have set a high standard, and we are inspired to continue building on the legacy through mutual cooperation,” he added. (PNA)