Local FOI proposed

CEBU City Councilor Jose Daluz III filed a proposed ordinance supporting President Rodrigo Duterte’s executive order to implement the Freedom of Information (FOI).

The proposed measure, which will be called “Freedom of Information Ordinance of Cebu City,” will be discussed on Tuesday when the City Council meets for their regular session.

The proposed ordinance shall “implement full disclosure and transparency in the public service” and embody to the constitutional rights to information on matters of public concern.

According to the proposed ordinance, those who would like to access certain documents would have to submit a request to the office concerned.

The office would then have to respond to the request fully compliant with requirements as soon as possible. The response shall state if the office will choose to either approve or deny the request.

Offices could deny access due to a few limitations, the proposed ordinance stated.

“The limitation is if it is prohibited under the constitution or any law that prohibits the release of information; like for example the privacy of an individual or if there are personal information. Second, any intelligence reports or (for) security,” said Daluz.

In the proposed ordinance, the period to respond should not exceed seven working days, however, it could be extended if the document requested should require extensive search in the office’s record facilities, examination of sizable records or any other reasonable causes for delay.

It is also stated that if the office fails to respond within seven working days, it has to notify the person and make a request for an extension. The extension should not go beyond 15 working days.

“The offices will not charge any fee for accepting requests for access to information,” Daluz’s proposed ordinance said.

He said that the person making the request would only need to pay when he reproduce copies of the original document.