Imagine
governance with less transparency. What could a country be? For Transparency
International's Corruption Perception Index (CPI), a zero scale is an
assessment of a country being “highly corrupt” and 100 as “very clean.” With
the latest CPI score of 33, the Philippines continues to be dubbed as one of
the most corrupt countries worldwide, ranked 116th among 180 countries. No
wonder why the curves of some politicians’ stomachs fatten - instead of sharing
the funds with the public, they feed it to themselves.
Freedom of Information is a move
towards transparency. Through Executive Order No. 2, series of 2016, signed by
former president Rodrigo Duterte, the public is allowed to access all
government documents, records, and transactions. FOI serves as a needle in
popping the stomachs of politicians. It lets fake news, dishonesty, and
stolen funds out of their stomachs. However, the curves do not easily result in
flattening. Though the public could freely access the information they want to
know, there are limitations to be considered.
The list of FOI exemptions covers
national defense or international relations; confidential information such as
records of proceedings especially minor victims; trade, business, and other
proprietary information. Others might argue to exclude these exceptions since
the purpose is transparency in the first place, yet, everything should have
boundaries. If everything would be freely accessible, the country would be at
risk – national security on military operations and intelligence gatherings
will not be protected; personal privacy on medical records, financial
information, and personal identification could lead to data and identity theft.
FOI will not only expose
corruption. It will also pave the way towards the “right to know” and the right
to accurately inform the “misinformed, disinformed, and those who are not
informed at all.”
Others believe that it is a ‘need’
for them to know the documents related to government agencies. Little did they
know, FOI shifts the thinking from a “need to know” basis to a “right to know”
basis. This means that by ensuring that information is accessible to the
public, we not only promote transparency and prevent corruption but also
guarantee that the right of every citizen is put into practice. As Article 19,
of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 states, “Everyone has the
right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold
opinions without interference and to seek, receive, and impart information and
ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”
Moreover, FOI accurately informs
the aforementioned group of individuals in a “less money and time” manner.
Through the electronic portal, FOI continues to bridge accurate information
across the nation. On their latest data, the top requested information and
agencies related to the COVID-19 pandemic include the Department of Social
Welfare and Development (DSWD): the list of 4Ps and Social Amelioration Program
beneficiaries and 2020 Approved Budget Cost for the Social Pension of Senior
Citizens of LGUs; the Social Security System (SSS): status of calamity loan
applications; and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE): CAMP Application
Status, AKAP Financial Assistance, and list of approved companies for CAMP per
Local Government Unit (LGU). The eFOI Portal has specifically contributed to
the academic sector, with 49.45% of users. It has also been essential by those
in areas including government, media, and others. This has been particularly
important during a time of crisis when people need reliable information more
than ever.
With the help of FOI, campus
journalists are able to provide transparent information on the government’s
actions and decisions. Yet, in some cases, the government can still release
information that is misleading, incomplete, or selective. The same goes for
other journalists. They can be biased and one-sided. Truth is a two-way process
- journalists demand the government’s transparency and accountability, and the
government requires the journalists’ reliability and accuracy. No one
manipulates the other. As Jemin B. Guillermo, J.D., Officer-in-Charge of
Philippine Information Agency – Region VI reminds campus journalists, “Be the
gateways, not gatekeepers of timely and relevant information. The goal is to
‘explain, explain, explain’ the narratives of the government to empower
Filipino citizens.”
The more the citizens are aware of
the government’s actions and decisions, the more effective the FOI becomes. The
more the politicians hide the information from the public, the more chances we
have to use the needle of FOI. If we ever hesitate to pop the stomach curves or
not, bear in mind that they always had an option, but chose to live with
secrets and lies. In the first place, corruption and disinformation should
never have a place inside one’s stomach as it is like toxins. They are harmful
and damaging, destroying the trust of those who consume them. Never let those
toxins destroy more stomachs. Sharpen the needle of FOI. Pop the stomachs. Flatten
the curves.
Written by: Christian John Villamor, Editor-in-Chief
Illustrated by: Joshua B. Baquilar, Cartoonist
