MANILA — The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Monday published a draft Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) on localizing the Freedom of Information (FOI) program to gather feedback from its various stakeholders.
The draft JMC serves as a guide for local government units (LGUs) in establishing mechanisms to operationalize the FOI program.
Local Sanggunians will be required to set the standards in providing public access to local information through the issuance of an FOI Ordinance, the local counterpart of the Executive Order No. 2, s. 2016.
Through the JMC, LGUs are tasked to designate an FOI focal person who will lead the development of the People’s FOI Manual and oversee the implementation of the program.
The People’s FOI Manual is the implementing rules and regulations of the program and will include the designated FOI Receiving Offices of each office under the LGU.
The localization efforts of the FOI program is in line with PCOO’s vision to capacitate and empower LGUs in facilitating public access to information in preparation for the passage of the FOI Bill.
The draft JMC will be available for public comments until March 26, 2018: http://www.dilg.gov.ph/issuances/draft/Guidelines-on-Localizing-the-Freedom-of-Information-FOI-Program-in-Local-Government-Units/92 (PCOO/PNA)
