FOI Philippines

𝗙𝗢𝗜 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟳

The Freedom of Information (FOI) – Project Management Office (now Program Management Office) was established in 2017 to strengthen coordination and centralize oversight of implementation.

With a dedicated office in place, initiatives such as the FOI Caravans and the FOI Awards broadened outreach and recognized implementing agencies across sectors.

The count continues. Seven weeks to ten years.

𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠

The House of Representatives voted 284-0, with zero abstentions, to approve House Bill No. 9397, or the proposed Right to Information (RTI) Act of 2026, on third and final reading. The measure is among the priority bills under the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council.

If enacted into law, the bill would provide Filipinos broader access to government records, spending documents, contracts, and decision-making processes, while requiring government agencies to proactively disclose information of public interest.

This follows the passage of the Senate counterpart on third and final reading last May 4, 2026.

The Freedom of Information-Program Management Office (FOI-PMO) of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) welcomes this development as an important step toward strengthening transparency, promoting accountability, and enabling more meaningful citizen participation in governance.

Read more about the House version of the bill here: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1276413.

𝗙𝗢𝗜 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟲

Government information was made more accessible with the launch of the electronic FOI (eFOI) portal in 2016.

Developed by the then-Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) with technical assistance from the World Bank, the portal started with fifteen pilot agencies. Within a year, participation grew to include more than 200 additional agencies government-wide.

The countdown begins. Eight weeks to ten years.

𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗞 | The House of Representatives officially passed the Right to Information (RTI) Bill on second reading, marking a major milestone in the ongoing effort to strengthen transparency, accountability, and public participation in governance.

Present during the plenary session were representatives from the Presidential Communications Office’s Freedom of Information–Program Management Office (FOI-PMO), as well as advocates from the Right To Know, Right Now Coalition, who expressed strong support for the proposed measure.

The passage of the bill on second reading reflects growing institutional and public support for legislation that upholds the people’s constitutional right to information and promotes greater openness in government processes and decision-making.

As the RTI Bill advances closer to enactment, stakeholders continue to call for sustained support from government institutions, civil society organizations, media groups, and the public to ensure the passage of a measure that empowers citizens through access to information and reinforces democratic accountability.

Read: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1275935

𝐖𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇 | The proposed Right to Information (RTI) Bill is now being deliberated at the plenary of the House of Representatives.

Watch the live streaming as lawmakers discuss the measure seeking to institutionalize the people’s right to access government information and strengthen transparency and accountability in governance.

20th Congress 1st Regular Session #37 Day 2 20th Congress 1st Regular Session #37 Day 2

𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊 | The Freedom of Information – Program Management Office (FOI-PMO) of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) was invited as a resource speaker for the FOI Program Orientation and Training for personnel of the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), held on 20 May 2026 via Google Meet.

The training aimed to enhance the participants’ understanding of the FOI Program, particularly its legal framework, roles and responsibilities, request processing procedures, and compliance requirements. The activity convened PCW personnel and FOI focal persons to strengthen their capacity in facilitating the timely provision of appropriate information requested by the public that are under the custody of their respective offices. This activity brings emphasis to the Commission’s commitment in upholding transparency and reinforcing the protection of women’s rights through access to information.

The FOI Online Consultation System (FOCS) Program, led by the FOI-PMO, remains steadfast in supporting government agencies under the Executive Branch by conducting capacity development trainings on the FOI Program and its latest policies. Government agencies under the Executive Branch interested in participating in the FOCS Program may schedule an orientation through .

𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞’𝐬 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

International organizations, government officials, members of Congress, business groups, civil society organizations (CSOs), and FOI advocates convened today, 21 May 2026, at Dusit Thani Manila, Makati City, for 𝐅𝐎𝐈 𝐍𝐨𝐰: 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐬 to discuss the urgency and importance of passing the Right to Information (RTI) Bill.

Organized by the Center for International Private Enterprise–Philippines (CIPE), the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) served as a speaker during the panel discussion, 𝐅𝐎𝐈 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞, where it presented the current state of transparency at the local level and ongoing national government efforts to strengthen access to information.

The Freedom of Information-Program Management Office of the PCO likewise participated in the 𝐅𝐎𝐈 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐬, highlighting how the electronic FOI (eFOI) Portal continues to expand public access to information and sharing real-life stories demonstrating its impact and successful use by information requestors.

The forum seeks to build a stronger multi-stakeholder coalition and advance a unified call to action in support of Freedom of Information and the passage of RTI legislation.

The Senate version of the RTI Bill was recently approved on third and final reading, while its counterpart in the House of Representatives was recently approved by the Committee on Appropriations.

𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱

Civil society organizations, youth advocates, governance networks, and transparency partners joined the two-day capacity-building workshop on mobilizing local government support for Freedom of Information (FOI) legislation in the Philippines.

Organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) together with partner organizations, including the Presidential Communications Office’s (PCO) Freedom of Information–Program Management Office (FOI-PMO), the workshop equipped organizations with strategies and tools for engaging local government units on transparency advocacy.

Sessions covered localized engagement approaches, LGU resolutions, communications and legislative advocacy efforts, and coordination mechanisms for continued collaboration beyond the workshop.

The activity also encouraged peer learning among participating organizations, youth involvement in transparency initiatives, and wider engagement for national FOI legislation.

This workshop is also in support of the celebration of Open Gov Week 2026, reaffirming the shared commitment to transparency, accountability, citizen participation, and open governance.