The 2018 FOI SUMMIT and AWARDS Held on November 28

The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), through the Freedom of Information – Project Management Office (FOI-PMO), successfully clinched the 2018 FOI Summit and Awards at the National Museum Auditorium of the National Museum of Fine Arts, Padre Burgos Avenue, Ermita, Manila on 30 November 2018.

The FOI Summit, in partnership with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), was honored by PCOO Undersecretary George Apacible with a strong message to government agencies: “I challenge all of you today, to place access to information in our heart – in the core of our mind – making it a tool for progress, a tool to end corruption, and a tool to make the lives of our countrymen comfortable.” DBM Undersecretary Laura Pascua also gave her share of encouragement by empowering the crowd to work together in forming the Program as a catalyst for generating useful public knowledge. This was followed by a welcome speech by PCOO Assistant Secretary and FOI Program Director Kristian Ablan highlighting the mission of PCOO to transform the government to being open and transparent. The event gathered distinguished speakers who expounded on how potential developments on access to information in the Philippines may be implemented to further improve the Program.

Later in the day, PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar graced the FOI Awards with a powerful speech promoting FOI as a way to fight disinformation, asserting that “the Program serves as a formidable tool for fighting fake news and a game-changer in the information-dissemination process, as FOI becomes an efficient mechanism for garnering first-hand and reliable information.” DBM Secretary Benjamin Diokno also expressed his gratitude to government agencies that continue to serve the Filipino people and enable civic engagement in the Philippines.

Top government offices, organizations, and private individuals were gathered and recognized for their participation that brought success to the Freedom of Information Program in the Philippines. Government officials present during the momentous ceremony were Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Danilo Lim, Commission on Filipinos Overseas Secretary Francisco Acosta, Department of Justice Undersecretary Emmeline Aglipay-Villar, Department of the Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III, Department of Budget and Management Undersecretary Lilia Guillermo, South Cotabato Vice Governor Vicente de Jesus, Masbate Vice Governor Jo Kristine Revil, Pakil Municipal Mayor Vincent Soriano, San Nicolas Vice Mayor Marlon Valdez, and Pasig City Councilor Victor Ma. Regis Sotto.

Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines Executive Director Bernardino Sayo and Executive Vice Director Edgardo Pamintuan also attended to receive their awards.

Agencies that stood out for their exceptional contributions to the progress of FOI were awarded. The FOI Champions are the Davao City Water District, the University of the Philippines System, the National Housing Authority, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and the Department of Labor and Employment.

The Department of Budget and Management, Department of Energy, Department of Finance, Department of Health, Bureau of Immigration, Commission on Filipinos Overseas, National Telecommunications Commission, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Light Rail Transit Authority, and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation bagged awards as top requested and performing agencies in the eFOI Portal.

Recognized for their efforts to support FOI Philippines — the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Harmonization of National Government Performance Monitoring, Information and Reporting Systems; Department of the Interior and Local Government; Commission on Higher Education; Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines; Lady Local Legislators League; Hivos; and Philippine Open Government Partnership Committee were awarded Plaques of Appreciation.

The first local water districts to onboard the eFOI Portal — General Santos City Water District in General Santos City and Metro Kidapawan Water District in Kidapawan City were conferred with FOI Recognition awards.

Local Government Units that issued their access to information ordinances were likewise given FOI Recognition awards for rolling out the FOI Program at the local level. These are: the City of Pasig in Metro Manila, Municipality of San Nicolas in Ilocos Norte, Municipality of Pakil in Laguna, Municipality of Bula in Camarines Sur, Province of Bohol, Province of Masbate, Province of Surigao Del Norte, Province of Benguet.

For more information, updates are available on the FOI Website: www.foi.gov.ph and at the FOI Philippines’ Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts.