Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte signs the Freedom of Information Executive Order in Davao City on July 23. (Photo by Rene Lumawag)
Philippine bishops have welcomed a presidential order by Rodrigo Duterte to implement a freedom of information measure that would give the public easier access to government data.
"It is good news, and we thank the president for standing by one of his promises," Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo of Manila, said July 28.
Duterte signed the order on July 23.
The prelate expressed hope that the president's order will serve as a "stimulus" that will lead to the passing of legislation pending in congress that will enshrine freedom of information in law.
"This is a step to transparency in governance," said Bishop Pabillo.
Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, recently named prelate of Kidapawan, said Duterte's order "is a big plus factor for our quest against corruption."
"It will force the government to be transparent," said the prelate. "We shall have a legal basis to demand transparency," he added.
Bishop Pabillo, meanwhile, urged congress to pass a freedom of information bill that has been pending in the legislature for almost two decades.
"An executive order is not enough, we need a law to institutionalize it," said the prelate.
Professor Roland Simbulan of the Center for People Empowerment in Governance agreed that "follow up legislation" is needed.
He said a law will cover all government agencies including the judiciary and the legislative body.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines also welcomed Duterte's order.
The group called on the government to "expand and strengthen freedom of the press and of information" with a passage of a law.
Civil society group the Right to Know Right Now Coalition also urged congress to "prove itself equally responsive by finally overcoming their resistance" to the passage of a freedom of Information law.
Under Duterte's executive order, the public is given access to information, official records and public records – documents and papers pertaining to research, official acts, transactions or decisions – from all offices under the executive branch.
All public officials under the executive are also directed to make "available for scrutiny" their statements of assets, liabilities and net worth.
"No request for information shall be denied unless it clearly falls under any of the exceptions listed in the inventory," read the executive order.
The main exception was national security. Other exceptions are to be identified by the Department of Justice and the Office of the Solicitor-General.