Communications Assistant Secretary Kristian R. Ablan (3rd from left), Freedom of Information Program Director, and Pasig City Mayor Victor Ma. Regis “Vico” N. Sotto (3rd from right) show the Memorandum of Understanding for the implementation of FOI Program in public libraries of the city, after its signing at the Pasig City hall on August 23. (PCOO photo)
MANILA – Pasig City Mayor Victor Ma. Regis “Vico” N. Sotto and Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Assistant Secretary Kristian R. Ablan on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the implementation of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Program in public libraries of the city.
Under the MOU, FOI Philippines shall provide Pasig’s public libraries with information materials and collaterals, while the city government shall allocate computers to be utilized as FOI kiosks for the public.
“The FOI Philippines continues to strengthen its efforts in improving the public’s awareness on the implementation of the FOI Program to encourage more Filipinos to effectively exercise their right to access information in the pursuit of transparency in the public service,” said Ablan, FOI Philippines Program Director.
Pasig City, which is also the first city in Metro Manila to have its own FOI ordinance, is the first local government to partner with FOI Philippines for the FOI Library Project.
All other public libraries from other locations are encouraged to join the project.
Then-councilor Sotto authored Ordinance No. 2018-37 or “The Pasig Transparency Mechanism Ordinance” that was signed on September 13, 2018, a few months after the city became the pilot venue of the FOI Campus Caravan held at the Kapitolyo High School on July 30, 2018, attended by 600 students with Sotto as guest speaker.
FOI Philippines’ eFOI Portal (www.foi.gov.ph) is an online portal for requesting information or documents from government offices. The eFOI Portal shall be used in public libraries to encourage Filipinos, especially those residing in the City of Pasig, to ask information from the Government.
The MOU signing ceremony at the Pasig city hall was attended by government officials, librarians, and FOI officers. (FOI PH)
