Duterte: EO on FOI to be implemented next week

The executive order (EO) on freedom of information (FOI) will be implemented next week, according to President Rodrigo Duterte.

Duterte made the announcement on Thursday during a televised press briefing on state-run PTV4.

“Due to the constant and insistent demand especially coming from media in the Philippines regarding the state of the right for information, I have decided to hurry up the process. I have the copy now of the draft,” he said, showing a copy of the draft EO.

The President said the EO would be implemented next week.

“This will be implemented the very least next week. I have to review it personally,” he said.

The Chief Executive read the opening statement, which stated, “Operationalizing in the executive branch the peoples’ constitutional right to information on the state of policies of full public disclosure and transparency in public service and providing guidelines therefore.”

But Duterte saidthe EO would cover only the agencies under the executive department.

“I would like to remind everybody that I could only bind the executive department, my branch of government. I cannot mind the other two, the judiciary and Congress because of the separation of powers,” he said.

“It is up to Congress if they can file and come up with a copy of the FOI law,” he said.

Duterte is set to sign the EO on Friday.