Makati City (the Philippines), 30 July 2024 - To foster greater transparency and accountability, the UN on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in collaboration with the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), hosted a workshop today on the Right to Information (RTI) on the implementation and advocacy of the Freedom of Information (FOI) policy in the Philippines. The workshop, attended by various government agencies, legislators, civil society organizations, and media representatives, served as a platform to identify and address the challenges and opportunities of the current FOI framework. It also sought to explore international best practices that could be adopted to enhance RTI in the country. This comes at a critical moment for RTI in the Philippines, where nine bills on FOI are currently under consideration by legislative bodies.
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This builds on previous UNODC work with the RTI playing a vital role in holding public bodies accountable by ensuring that citizens can be active participants in society. The policy serves as a powerful tool in the fight against corruption. In line with the recommendations of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) Implementation Review Mechanism, the Philippines has been leading multiple efforts to improve and strengthen its FOI policy framework.
Throughout the sessions, legislative staff emphasized the importance of these platforms for collective discussion and the participation of civil society organizations in strengthening legislative efforts.
The two-day workshop resulted in a guidance document aimed at encouraging and enhancing the effectiveness of FOI in the Philippines. This document and the rest of the outcomes of the session will be presented by UNODC and PCO during the Congressional deliberations scheduled for 28 August this year.
The workshop was funded by the US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), in line with objective 1 on “Enhance transparency and accountability through greater access to information and better reporting channels” under the Regional Roadmap.
Click here to learn more about UNODC’s anti-corruption efforts in Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
