THE Energy Regulatory Commission said late Monday evening that they recently conducted a consultation system and relaunching of their updated Freedom of Information (FOI) manual.
The said event was led by ERC Chairperson and CEO, Monalisa Dimalanta, along with Commissioners Catherine Maceda and Floresinda Baldo-Digal.
Resource speakers were invited from the Freedom of Information – Program Management Office (FOI-PMO) of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).
According to the ERC, the updated ERC FOI Manual introduced necessary revisions to incorporate the new guidelines pertaining to the FOI Manual, particularly: (a) Vexatious Freedom of Information Requests and Abuse of Rights; and (b) “No Wrong Door Policy for FOI” of the then Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), now Presidential Communications Office (PCO). It focused on streamlining the process to ensure that all requests for information are efficiently handled by the ERC.
The resource speakers from the FOI-PMO discussed reinforcement and compliance requirements, workflow, turnaround time, data privacy, feedback mechanisms and a walkthrough on the Electronic FOI Portal (eFOI).
“The Commission cannot sufficiently underscore the importance of exercises like this,” Dimalanta said.
She added that the move is an affirmation of the ERC’s commitment to enhance the accessibility of information to the public.
“Through the years, the ERC has implemented policies that promoted transparency by enabling the public to gain access to ERC’s orders, decisions, resolutions, and other issuances, encouraging public participation in the Republic of the Philippines,” Dimalanta said.
Catherine R. Cueto
