Upholding right to information under Marcos administration

The article highlights the persistent gap between political rhetoric and the practical implementation of the right to information in the Philippines. While President Marcos Jr. has reaffirmed the constitutional guarantee of public access to information and established frameworks like the Open Government Partnership, the current administration has reintroduced restrictive clauses. Notably, updates to previous freedom of information orders now limit public access to critical data, including details regarding anti-corruption investigations, thereby undermining the transparency necessary for genuine accountability. Furthermore, the environment for media freedom remains fraught with challenges, as evidenced by the continued harassment and red-tagging of journalists. This hostile climate creates a chilling effect that discourages the free flow of information, even as the government promotes media literacy campaigns. The combination of bureaucratic obstructions and social persecution suggests that without legislative safeguards, executive orders alone are insufficient to secure robust public access to government records. This situation is critically relevant to open data advocates because it demonstrates that technical openness is ineffective without legal protection and a safe ecosystem for information dissemination. To truly advance open data, the Philippines must prioritize the passage of comprehensive legislation, such as the Freedom of Information and E-Governance Bills. These laws would institutionalize access, ensuring that data is not only available but also usable by citizens to hold officials accountable and participate meaningfully in democratic processes.

Source: philstar.com
Published on 2023-07-16

Open Data

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