L-R: Presidential Communications Office (PCO)OIC Undersecretary for Strategic Communications and concurrent Assistant Secretary for Television and Radio Jose Maria Villarama II, Supervising Trade-Industry Development Specialist Cresenciano P. Par, Management Service Group Assistant Secretary and Supervising Head Michel Kristian R. Ablan, Assistant Secretary and Chief-of-staff May Nina Celynne P. Layug, Communication and Information Service(CIS)-Information and Creative Service Division Chief Annalyn J. Flores, CIS Director Fhillip D. Sawali, and PCO Undersecretary for Operations, Administration, Finance, and GOCCs Cherbett Karen L. Maralit

Pasay City, Philippines—On November 25, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) reaffirmed its standing as a champion of transparency and accountability by securing three notable distinctions at the 2024 Freedom of Information (FOI) Awards.

These achievements reflect President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Bagong Pilipinas vision that brings government programs closer to communities, upholds citizens’ right to access information, and builds a united and inclusive Philippines where development benefits all sectors of society.

Highlighting this success, the DTI was awarded 2nd Runner-Up in the Best Freedom of Information Implementer Department. This honor marks the highest recognition the DTI has achieved in the history of the FOI Awards, following the Department of Agriculture as 1st Runner-Up and the Department of Science and Technology as the Champion.

The Department also earned two additional citations for being among “Agencies With 500 to 999 Requests and With At Least 90% Closed Transactions,” and acknowledged its team as the “Best FOI Receiving Officer.”

Representing DTI Secretary Cristina A. Roque, DTI Assistant Secretary and Chief of Staff May Nina Celynne P. Layug and Assistant Secretary and Management Services Group Supervising Head Michel Kristian R. Ablan, accepted the awards.

These distinctions solidified the Department’s status as the most awarded agency at the event, highlighting its unwavering commitment to public service and the exceptional management support provided to the FOI program.

Moreover, the event underscored the invaluable contributions of DTI FOI Receiving Officers and FOI Decision Makers across the Department whose efforts were essential in achieving this remarkable accomplishment.

Building on this, Communications and Information Service (CIS) Director Fhillip D. Sawali, CIS-Information and Creative Services Division Chief and FOI Decision Maker Annalyn J. Flores, and FOI Receiving Officer Cresenciano P. Par will continue to serve as the DTI Agency Focal to ensure effective implementation of the FOI program.

The team also includes Trade-Industry Development Specialist Rae Christel E. Maungca, Trade-Industry Development Analyst Rizzalyn E. Vales, and Administrative Assistant Noralyn B. Rizardo.

Since the awards began in 2017, the DTI has been recognized as a top implementing government agency for five consecutive years.

In its 8th year, the FOI Awards celebrated the efforts of the FOI champions from various groups in advancing the FOI Program in the Executive Branch. 

Held alongside the awards ceremony, the 2024 FOI Summit centered on the theme “Local Voices, National Impact: Bridging and Empowering Communities through FOI Localization.” This summit underscored the significance of transparency initiatives at the local level and called for enhanced partnerships with communities and civil society.

It further explored the evolving role of the FOI program in local governance, with discussions focused on connecting government initiatives with the public, and ensuring access to information as the foundation for informed decision-making and empowered citizens.

Established under Executive Order No. 2 series of 2016, the FOI program seeks to empower citizens by granting access to government information. Additionally, the Presidential Communications Office-Project Management Office advocates for FOI and the passage of a comprehensive FOI law.

For more information about the FOI Program, click the following links: Freedom of Information (FOI) Program and FOI in the Department of Trade and Industry. ♦

Date of release: 28 November 2024

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