Balanga City recently welcomed representatives from the Presidential Communications Office (PCOO). On behalf of City Mayor Francis Anthony S. Garcia, Vice-Mayor Vianca Lita V. Gozon and Board Member Jovy Z. Banzon warmly received them.
Following this significant visit, the PCOO, in collaboration with the City Government of Balanga through the Management Information Services Office led by Ms. Roneth B. Santos, conducted the Barangay Freedom of Information seminar at Emiliana Hall, Balanga City
The seminar, attended by officials from Balanga City’s 25 barangays and Sangguniang Kabataan and the focal person of all city departments, is a capacity-building initiative by the FOI Project Management Office. This seminar aims to empower citizens in local governments with an FOI ordinance, enabling them to utilize both national and local mechanisms to access public information and actively engage with their government.
In her opening remarks, Atty. Evangeline Q. de Leon, Assistant Secretary for Operations and Support of the Presidential Communications Office emphasized that the seminar aims to enhance citizens’ awareness and actions in exercising their right to information. She stated, “Dapat ang bawat mamamayan ay may alam at may pakialam,” underscoring the importance of public participation and access to information.
The highlight of the activity was the FOI presentations of Ms. Krizia Casey P. Avejar, FOI PMO’s Communications and Capacity Development Division Chief, and Mr. Francisco Nicolai Pallada, FOI PMO’s IT Officer. They provided an overview of the FOI program and conducted a detailed walkthrough of the eFOI portal and mobile FOI application.
In their messages, City Councilors Benigno Meriño and Victor Baluyot Jr., along with ABC President Erlinda Ganzon, highlighted the importance of the seminar in promoting transparency and making government-held information accessible to the public. ABC President Ganzon promised to bring the insights gained from the seminar to the barangays they lead. Additionally, Councilor Baluyot discussed the salient points of City Ordinance No. 08 S. of 2020, known as the “FOI Ordinance of the City of Balanga.”
Through the efforts of City Mayor Francis Anthony S. Garcia, Vice-Mayor Vianca Lita V. Gozon, and the Sangguniang Panlungsod members, Balanga City successfully passed an FOI ordinance. This achievement earned the city recognition from the PCOO as a “New Local Government Unit to Pass an Ordinance on FOI.” The City Administrator’s Office, serving as the FOI receiving office, ensures that all requests for information are processed efficiently and effectively through an in-house developed Document Tracking System (DTS).
After the presentations, an open forum was held to address the questions and comments of the participants.
The event was also graced by Ms. Mildred Sazon, DILG Balanga LGOO; Hon. Romeo Austria, Federated ABC President; and Ms. April Aurea, Ms. Jennifer Gonzales, and Mr. Jonathan Radores from the Presidential Communications Office.
