SENATOR Alan Peter Cayetano this Wednesday called for a review of the implementation of Executive Order (EO) No. 2 on Freedom of Information (FOI) to address challenges in accessing information from the government and properly communicating important issues to the public.
In a meeting with Radio Mindanao Network (RMN) station managers on November 27, 2024, Cayetano said he will file a resolution to improve the EO on FOI.
This follows the observation of some members of the media that even though FOI has been passed, it is still difficult to impose transparency in government offices.
In response, Cayetano emphasized the need to review the EO on FOI. “I’ll file a resolution,” he said. “Since Ate Pia (Senator Pia Cayetano) is the chairperson of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, let’s look into the implementation of the law.”
The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee is responsible for investigating government accountability and ensuring that laws and executive orders are properly implemented.
According to Cayetano, the review of the FOI EO under this committee will help in its goal of promoting transparency, good governance, and public trust.
The senator also admitted that although the FOI EO signed during the Duterte administration is a step forward, there are still many things lacking in its implementation.
He also mentioned the change in journalism that has affected the effort to make the government more transparent.
“Before, when you had a scoop, you were rewarded. Now, even if you have a scoop, if people don’t notice [it doesn’t matter anyway]. You have to lay the basis one brick at a time,” he said.
He added that the rise of platforms like TikTok and the shorter attention span of people today make it difficult to explain the issues.
“Nowadays, the attention span is like TikTok, fifteen seconds, thirty seconds. Right now it’s all elevator pitch,” he said.
As an advocate of good governance and the fight against corruption, Cayetano has long supported the FOI Bill.
Although it passed the Senate in the 14th and 15th Congresses, it did not advance to the House of Representatives.
Cayetano still believes that an effective FOI system will lead to a better and more accountable government.
_Returning to values_
In the midst of political disunity, Cayetano stressed that the restoration of correct morality is more important than political reforms.
He also called for a national consensus on moral standards as the foundation of reforms.
“For me, it really goes back to values. Before, it was absolute, but values and morals are relative now and this affects our identity as politicians, as a government, and as Filipinos,” he said.
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