LINGAYEN, RECIPIENT OF FOI AWARD 2021

The Municipality of Lingayen was among the local government unit-awardees in this year’s Freedom of Information (FOI) Awards conferred by the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO).

The FOI Award is given to local governments that have been championing the objectives of the proposed FOI Act, specifically by enacting an FOI Ordinance.

Earlier this year, the Sangguniang Bayan of Lingayen passed Ordinance No. 99-2021, primarily authored by Councilor Jay Mark Kevin Crisostomo, operationalizing FOI in the Municipality. The Ordinance declared in part that, “recognizing the importance of the people’s right to government information, and guided by the President’s Executive Order, the Municipal Government deems it necessary to provide a local mechanism for its offices where the people’s right to information is respected and upheld, subject to exceptions provided by law and jurisprudence.” Said Ordinance was already reviewed and approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

Mayor Leopoldo N. Bataoil, together with Crisostomo and Municipal Information Officer Mae Viray-Rueda, personally received the FOI Award on November 25, 2021 at the Radisson Blu Cebu, Osmeña Blvd. corner Juan Luna Avenue, Cebu City.
The award was given during the celebration of the five-year implementation of the FOI Program in the Philippines.

Aside from the Awarding Ceremony, Bataoil also attended the FOI Summit commemorating “five fruitful years of championing transparency and accountability, promoting good goverance, and empowering Filipino citizens through access to information” on Nov. 23. Said Summit was highlighted by the FOI Program Director’s Report, rendered by Kristian Ablan of the PCOO; TED Talks by various selected speakers; and Panel Sessions underscoring on what had been for the FOI program and the future direction of FOI.

For his part, Bataoil vowed to further transparency and accountability in all departments of the Municipality. (MIO)