Outgoing PCOO secretary wants incoming to continue FOI policy

The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) will recommend to the incoming secretary of the agency that outgoing Duterte administration’s Freedom of Information (FOI) policy be kept, a top official said Sunday.

In a Super Radyo dzBB interview, acting Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Undersecretary Kris Ablan said that the PCOO has already prepared its transition report for the next secretary, together with its agencies such as the Philippine Information Agency, National Printing Office, Bureau Communications Office, and Radio Television Malacañang.

“Marami kaming ie-endorse sa bagong secretary na sana i-continue niya. Unang-una diyan ‘yung programa ko (we will endorse several programs to the new secretary and top of) which is Freedom of Information – a mechanism or tool for transparency,” he said.

FOI, also called the “right to information”, is among fundamental human rights enshrined in many international treaties, national constitutions, as well as domestic laws.

Ablan noted that about 150,000 requests on various agencies have been processed by the PCOO so far.

Likewise, Ablan expects that the next administration will continue the ongoing Visayas Media Hub and Government Communication Academy projects of the current administration.

Also, he underscored the importance of PCOO as a media content creator as it has generated jobs for about 140 employees.

If this project stops, he said, the employees – from graphic artists to videographers –may lose their jobs by the end of President Rodrigo Duterte’s term.

“Kapag hindi sumang-ayon ang papasok na kalihim na ipagpatuloy ang pagiging content creator, lahat sila ay mag-e-endo by June 30.” —LBG, GMA News