BASILAN Governor Mujiv Hataman began his first day and first term of office on Monday, June 30, 2025, by issuing Executive Order (EO) 1, establishing the first official policy of the province on Freedom of Information (FOI), underscoring a government centered on transparency and accountability.
Hataman penned the EO upon entering the Office of the Governor following his inaugural address amid the drizzle on Monday afternoon at the new provincial government center in Sta. Clara village, Lamitan City, Basilan.
The new provincial government center is a project of the defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm).
Hataman is the first governor of Basilan to hold office at the government center, which was built during his term as the then government of Armm in 2018.
"Ito ang magiging sandigan ng malinis at tapat na pamahalaan, kung saan ang bawat transaksyon ay lantad, at bawat piso ng pondo ng bayan ay nakikita kung saan napupunta (This will be the foundation of a clean and honest government, where every transaction is transparent, and every peso of public funds can be seen where it goes)," Hataman said.
The EO is in conformity to the 1987 Constitution and mirrors the framework of Executive Order 2 issued in 2016 by then President Rodrigo Duterte.
The FOI policy covers all departments, offices and instrumentalities under the Provincial Government. Each office is required to designate a Freedom of Information officer.
The FOI officers will be responsible for processing requests, assisting the public and maintaining a log of information requests and the government's responses.
Compliance with the EO will be monitored by the Office of the Provincial Governor through the provincial administrator.
In addition to FOI, Hataman said they will also launch the Basilan Transparency Board to fight corruption.
"We will launch 'Mujiv Live,' so that the people can report directly using technology. We will be advised not by a cordon sanitaire or by people close to us, but by a People's Council," Hataman added.
He said they will go around Basilan for a listening tour, where they will directly listen and understand the problems of the average Basileños. (SunStar Zamboanga)