Kibungan crafts law to allow folks check projs

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- The local government of Kibungan crafted its Freedom of Information (FOI) measure in recognition of the importance of the people’s right to government information and check government projects.

Guided by President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order No. 2 operationalizing people’s constitutional right to information and the state policies to full public disclosure and transparency in the public service,the LGU passed its own FOI operationalization through Municipal Ordinance Number 92 series of 2019.

Under the FOI, information that could be accessed are official records, public records and documents and papers pertaining to official acts, transactions or decisions as well as government research data as basis for policy development.

However, access to information shall be denied if the information requested falls under the inventory of FOI exceptions. 

The measure also underscores set of procedures to follow in the filing and processing of requests such as  written request to concerned office, provision of reasonable assistance of public official receiving the request, tracing of status of requests through a system,   and if granted a notification to the requesting party.

While providing access to information, public records and official records, the LGU’s FOI measure ensures the full protection to individual’s right to privacy consistent with the Data Privacy Act of 2012. It also provides local mechanism for its offices where the people’s right to information is respected and upheld.

The offices of the Mayor and the Vice Mayor are designated as FOI offices tasked to oversee the implementation of the ordinance. (JDP/SCA-PIA-CAR, Benguet)