Palace to launch electronic FOI portal on November 25

MALACAÑANG announced on Thursday, November 24, that it will launch the electronic Freedom of Information (FOI) portal on Friday, November 25, where the public can access documents of transactions and operations of about 15 participating government agencies.

Kristian Ablan, Communications Assistant Secretary for Policy and Legislative Affairs, told reporters that the launch of e-FOI facility will coincide with the turnover of the FOI manuals of all government agencies mandated to make their documents accessible to all Filipino citizens.

Ablan said the requesting parties could request for any government transactions and operations through online application on the website www.foi.gov.ph, instead of going to government agencies they want to scrutinize.

“We’re unveiling and launching the electronic FOI or e-FOI, which is an online facility wherein citizens are able to lodge their applications online instead of going to [specific agency of interest],” Ablan said.

“They can actually lodge online and file a request, and it will be received by a counterpart receiving officer at the department and then likewise evaluated and approved or denied by a decision maker,” he added.

Ablan, however, said the e-FOI platform will initially be available for only 15 departments and attached agencies.

The 15 agencies to pilot the data system of e-FOI are as follows:

1. Presidential Communications Office

2. Department of Information and Communications Technology

3. Department of Budget and Management

4. Department of Finance

5. Department of Justice

6. Department of Transportation

7. Department of Health

8. Philippine Statistics Authority

9. National Archives of the Philippines

10. Philippine National Police

11. PhilHeath

12. Office of the Government Corporate Council

13. Presidential Commission on Good Government

14. Office of the Solicitor General

15. Public Attorney’s Office

Ablan said the agency is given a “non-extendable” 35 working days to provide the particular FOI request.

“The agency is given 15 working days to address the particular FOI request. If the request involves a complex information or data set, then the agency can extend the processing time by another 20 working days. So, a total of 35 working days non-extendable,” he said.

If the agency fails to comply with the 35 maximum working days, Ablan said the aggrieved requestor can make an appeal to a higher authority to address the FOI query.

Ablan said the agency that does not comply with the regulation may also face administrative charges.

‘Exceptions on FOI’

Meanwhile, Malacañang also released the list of at least nine FOI exceptions to the right of access to information, as recognized by the Constitution, existing laws, or jurisprudence.

A copy given to Palace reporters showed that the information covered by executive privilege, as well as privileged information relating to national security, defense, or international relations could not be accessed.

Also exempted from public scrutiny were the information concerning law enforcement, public protection and personal safety; information deemed confidential for the protection of the privacy and certain individuals like minors, victims of crimes or the accused; and documents known by reason of official capacity and deemed confidential.

“Confidential” documents, based on the list, were “those submitted or disclosed by entities to government agencies, tribunals and boards or officers, in relation to the performance of their functions or to inquiries or investigation conducted by them in the exercise of their administrative, regulatory or quasi-judicial powers.”

The public could not also obtain “prejudicial, premature disclosure; records of proceedings pursuant to law treated as confidential; matters considered confidential under banking and finance laws and amendatory laws; and other exceptions to the right of information under laws, jurisprudence, and rules and regulations.” (Sunnex)

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