CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella mulls the passage of city ordinance that would put more teeth, at least in the city, on the Freedom of Information order President Rodrigo Duterte signed over the weekend.
“On a personal note, I really appreciate President Duterte for having signed this order. This has been long overdue,” Labella said.
“Maybe the City Council can come up with an ordinance that would complement, a complementary ordinance, mura na syag implementing rules or maybe in a form of resolution… but you know, resolution is just a mere expression of the sentiments of the Council whereas an ordinance is the law within the territorial jurisdiction of the Council,” he said.
Duterte’s executive order would require all government offices under the executive branch to disclose details of their transactions.
“If you really think about it, this is really accountability of public provision. A public office is a public trust, we’ve been stressing on that several times,” Labella said.
Citing a Supreme Court order, Labella said becoming a public officer diminishes a person’s privacy.
In 2009, the Senate approved the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act or Senate Bill No. 3308, which requires government agencies to allow public review and copying of all official information, including those related to projects where corruption is an issue.
The legislation did not prosper, however, due to lack of quorum. (FREEMAN)