The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has been recognized again as one of the “Top Requested and Performing Agencies” in the 2020 Freedom of Information (FOI) Awards.
The recognition was conferred by the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) to the DENR for consistently supporting the FOI program by providing timely and active responses to requests for information from the public.
Data from the DENR’s Records Management Division showed the agency has successfully processed 250 to 499 requests from the public with at least 90 percent closed transactions in the eFOI portal.
The DENR also received the same award in 2019.
“I laud the DENR FOI group behind these two consecutive year successes.”
“I laud the DENR FOI group behind these two consecutive year successes,” DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu said.
“Once again, the DENR adhered to the call for transparency and full disclosure of information which is the right of every Filipino,” Cimatu added.
The agency has also received a special citation on providing exceptional and significant contribution to FOI program’s progress and development amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Despite the challenges of the persistent pandemic crisis today, we will continue to fulfill our responsibility on public disclosure of information, particularly on environmental policies and concerns,” the environment chief said.
“Transparency of information is necessary to exhibit good governance and earn the trust of Filipino citizens.”
“Transparency of information is necessary to exhibit good governance and earn the trust of Filipino citizens,” the environment head added.
The annual FOI Awards aims to recognize the remarkable contributions of government offices in the executive branch, including government-owned and controlled corporations, state universities and colleges, and local water districts to the development and progress of the PCOO’s FOI program.
The FOI Committee of the DENR was created in 2017 composed of representatives from the various offices and bureaus to oversee and ensure the effective implementation of Executive Order (EO) No. 2 issued by President Rodrigo Duterte in 2016.
EO 2 pertains to “operationalizing in the Executive Branch the people’s constitutional right to information and the State policies to full public disclosure and transparency in the public service and providing guidelines therefor.”
Through the eFOI electronic platform, Filipino citizens can request online any information about government transactions and operations, and official and public records, among others provided that it shall not put into jeopardy privacy and matters of national security.