1 week ago
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DAGUPAN CITY — A group of city councilors known as the Majority 7 (M7) has proposed the freedom of information (FOI) ordinance that aims to institutionalize public access to government records and improve transparency mechanisms in local governance.
The ordinance, titled the Freedom of Information and Transparency Mechanism Ordinance of 2025, seeks to establish clear guidelines for accessing official documents, including budget records, procurement plans and other public records.
If passed, it will require the city government to proactively disclose key information online, making governance more open and accountable to Dagupeños.
Political context
The FOI ordinance is being pushed by Councilor Redford Christian Erfe-Mejia alongside fellow members of the M7. Among them, Councilor Librada Reyna is the only one who had been reelected to the city council during the 2025 polls.
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While the M7 pushes for transparency and accountability, Mayor Belen Fernandez, who was also reelected this year, has previously dubbed the group "Unliperwisyo, " a term suggesting inefficiency or disruption in governance.
The political dynamics between the administration and the council majority continue to shape policy making in Dagupan.
Key provisions
Under the proposed FOI ordinance, any citizen may request and obtain government records without needing to justify their request. The processing of such requests will be overseen by the City Information Officer, with a 10-working-day deadline for responses.
Additionally, the ordinance mandates automatic disclosure of certain financial documents, procurement reports, and other governance-related materials. An online platform will also be created to facilitate digital requests, including anonymous submissions.
While the ordinance reinforces open governance, certain records — such as personal medical information, security plans and ongoing law enforcement investigations — will remain classified.
Public response
Advocates of the measure argue that institutionalizing the freedom of information will strengthen public engagement and combat inefficiencies in governance.
However, with the ongoing political friction between the M7 councilors and the mayor, the ordinance's progress remains a subject of discussion.
The proposal awaits deliberation, and if enacted, Dagupan City will join other local government units like Pasig City in establishing a formal FOI policy.
