Freedom of Information Day • March 16
Freedom of Information Day is observed every March 16. It highlights a simple idea: people should have the right to know how their government works.
In the Philippines, that right exists—but with clear limitations.
In 2016, the government introduced the Freedom of Information system through Executive Order No. 2. This allows citizens to request official records, reports, studies, datasets, and other government documents from national agencies.
An online portal was later set up where Filipinos can submit requests for information held by government offices.
However, the system does not cover the entire government. Because it was created through an executive order rather than a full law, its reach is limited mainly to agencies under the Executive Branch. Congress, the courts, and most local government units are not automatically included.
Because of these limits, many transparency advocates have long pushed for a full Freedom of Information law that would apply to all branches of government.
There are also legal exceptions. Requests may be denied if the information involves national security, confidential government matters, or personal data protected by privacy laws.
Even with these limits, the system still gives citizens a formal way to request documents that are not normally posted online—such as internal studies, detailed project records, datasets behind reports, and archived government documents.
The spirit behind Freedom of Information is simple. In many ways, government should feel like an open house because it serves the public.
Citizens should be able to see things like:
• how public money is spent
• what projects are approved
• what policies are being implemented
• what studies or reports the government produced
The logic is straightforward: taxpayers fund the government, so taxpayers should have access to the records.
Still, even countries with strong Freedom of Information laws keep some doors closed for valid reasons, such as:
• national security
• intelligence operations
• ongoing investigations
• personal private data
• diplomatic negotiations
Freedom of Information therefore does not mean that nothing is ever confidential. The principle is that government information should be public by default unless there is a clear reason to keep it private.
Freedom of Information Day reminds us that transparency is not only about having access to information. It is also about knowing that we have the right to ask for it.
In the Philippines, the right to ask for information exists—but access still depends on where the records are kept.
You can explore the system or submit a request here: https://www.foi.gov.ph
⌨ ᴛʸᵖⁱⁿᵍ ᴏᵘᵗ ᵒᶠ ᵗʰᵉ ʙˡᵘᵉ ᵈᵃʳᵉᵐ ᵐᵘˢⁱᶜ ᵇˡᵒᵍ
