PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. yesterday vowed to continue upholding the people’s right to information and sustain his administration’s fight against disinformation in the country, underscoring that “fake news should have no place in modern society.”
During the 14th edition of the International Conference of Information Commissioners (ICIC) held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City, the President noted that many Filipinos had fallen victims to fake news, misinformation, and disinformation with the advent of the internet and the continued development of technology.
The situation, he added, is not limited to the Philippines as this is also happening in other parts of the world.
“Like everyone here, we too recognize as a matter of principle that fake news should have no place in modern society,” Marcos said.
He added his administration is determined to address the issue by continuing the media and information literacy program that has been implemented through the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), as well as the pursuit of legislative initiatives to enact a Freedom of Information (FOI) law and other similar measures to strengthen the government’s mandate and broaden its reach.
PCO Secretary Cheloy Garafil, whose office hosted this year’s ICIC summit in Manila, said the country’s hosting of the event is a testament that the Philippine government recognizes that access to information is a fundamental human right that must be upheld.
In a separate program message, the President said the FOI program serves as a cornerstone for the administration’s campaign against misinformation and disinformation.
“Many of us in the public service, and to this you could likewise relate, were victims of fake news at one point or another. Such campaigns should never be an opportunity to derail anyone, leaders and common people alike, from doing the good they intend and from serving the public. While we can appreciate how the internet has vastly improved the way we live and the way we conduct our businesses, it has, unfortunately, become a breeding ground for misinformation and disinformation,” Marcos’ message read.
In 2016, then President Rodrigo Duterte signed an executive order that adopted the FOI in the executive branch to promote transparency in government transactions and full accountability among officials, and to help facilitate efficient delivery of basic services to the people.
Marcos said that the Philippines, as a nation with a “robust democracy,” “we reaffirm our commitment to champion this basic human right.”
The President highlighted the importance of the freedom of information in empowering the people to make sound and informed decisions to participate fully in democratic processes, and to become productive citizens who contribute to nation building.
“It remains indelibly etched in our fundamental law,” he said, adding that FOI principles have even been embedded in his administration’s development plan for the next six years, which include digitizing services offered by national and local government agencies and fighting misinformation and disinformation.
The President urged members of all branches of government “to genuinely uphold and give effect to the people’s freedom of information in the course of our day-to-day operations, with good faith and with openness.”
He stressed that the exercise of the right will serve the best interest of the country as a nation and would be a key to good governance, improved public services, and a more progressive and sustainable society.
The ICIC event, which will run from June 19 to 21, is attended by more than 80 delegates from over 50 access to information implementing offices from the Americas, Africa, Australia, Assia, Europe, and the Pacific Islands.
PCO said the ICIC connects information commissioners, ombudspersons and other bodies charged with overseeing the implementation of access to public information legislation, in order to foster the protection and the promotion of access to public information as a fundamental pillar to social, economic and democratic governance.
