TACLOBAN CITY—The signing of the Freedom on Information by President Rodrigo Duterte was hailed by two mayors in Leyte who have experienced their share of criticism both from the public and the media.
Tacloban City Mayor Cristina Gonzales Romualdez and Palo Mayor Remedios “Matin” Petilla hailed the President for issuing an executive order fleshing out the FOI. “I think it’s the right of the people to get information. Here in the city hall, we are not hiding anything. We are transparent,” Romualdez said.
For her part, Mayor Petilla said her administration also allows the public and the media access to public records. However, Petilla was told a Tacloban press conference that “not all information being sought by the media should be given. I think there should be some limitations for the media.”
She, however, did not set the limit of freedom of information, saying she was still waiting for more guidelines on the executive order issued by the President.
The Palo town mayor, who had also served as governor and a congresswoman, stressed that she supports Duterte’s campaign to make public officials accountable to the public and the media.
Both Romualdez, a first-term mayor who served for nine years as a councilor, and Petilla have been subject to media criticism of their peformance as public servants.
On July 24, Duterte signed an executive order on FOI. The executive order states that all Filipinos shall be given access to information, records and documents to official government transactions, to include research data.
The National Press Club Philippines also welcomed the signing of the executive order on FOI.