All six component cities and 44 municipalities in Cebu Province are being urged to adopt and institutionalize Freedom of Information (FOI) mechanisms to promote transparency, accountability, citizen participation and efficient public service.
Gov. Pamela Baricuatro issued the call through Executive Order (EO) 43, signed Aug. 12, 2026, which strongly enjoins local government units (LGUs) to enact FOI ordinances through their respective city and municipal councils.
The order also urges local officials to proactively disclose public records without waiting for formal FOI requests.
Component LGUs are encouraged to post key financial documents, annual budgets, procurement plans and project updates on their official websites, social media channels and transparency portals.
EO 43 builds on Executive Order 3, series of 2025, and Provincial Ordinance 2026-09, which established the Cebu Provincial Government’s FOI program.
Provincial Ordinance 2026-09, otherwise known as the Cebu Provincial Government Offices Freedom of Information Ordinance of 2026, operationalizes the constitutional right to information and establishes the Province’s FOI program.
The ordinance covers Provincial Government offices but does not compel component cities and municipalities to adopt their own FOI systems. EO 43 instead strongly enjoins these LGUs to pass similar ordinances in their respective jurisdictions.
Technical assistance
Under Sections 5 and 6 of EO 43, the Provincial Information Office (PIO) is designated as the primary coordinating body to assist LGUs with FOI implementation.
The PIO is directed to provide technical assistance upon request, conduct orientation and capacity-building programs, and “develop and make available model FOI ordinances, forms, manuals, and procedures” that component cities and municipalities may adopt or adapt.
To promote province-wide coordination and the sharing of practices, the order encourages LGUs to provide the
PIO with copies of their approved ordinances and implementing guidelines.
SunStar Cebu sought comment from Vice Gov. Glenn Anthony Soco through a message on Monday, Aug. 24, but he had yet to respond as of press time. / CDF
