ON November 25, 2024, the City Government of Tagbilaran, led by Mayor Jane Yap, took part in the 2024 Freedom of Information (FOI) Summit held at Hilton Manila, Newport Boulevard. The summit, with the theme “Local Voices, National Impact: Bridging and Empowering Communities through FOI Localization,” gathered FOI advocates from across the country to discuss the impact of FOI and share best practices for making information more accessible to the public.
Mayor Yap was honored to join the panel for Session 1, where she spoke about the City Government of Tagbilaran’s commitment to transparency and how the city has been working to make FOI a part of its everyday operations.
One of the highlights of her talk was the city’s Open Budget Presentation, held on October 16, 2024, at the Tagbilaran City Hall Atrium.
“During our Open Budget Presentation for CY 2025, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) from the Tagbilaran City People’s Council were actively engaged, asking questions, and providing valuable feedback,” Mayor Yap shared. “This is a perfect example of how we’ve made transparency a key part of governance in Tagbilaran, where everyone has the opportunity to be heard and contribute.”
The Mayor also emphasized another important milestone—the FOI Ordinance Operationalization Workshop that took place on November 19-20, 2024.
This workshop, organized in collaboration with the Presidential Communications Office and USAID Change, provided city employees with the tools and knowledge to better implement the FOI program and help citizens access the information they need.
Currently, the City Press Relations and Information Office (CPRIO), under the Office of the City Administrator, is responsible for handling FOI requests, ensuring that information flows freely and efficiently within the city government.
This effort helps keep the public informed, strengthens accountability, and empowers citizens to actively participate in the city’s development.
The FOI Summit is an annual gathering of local and national government leaders, civil society groups, and other stakeholders who are committed to improving transparency and public access to government information.
This year’s event provided a platform for sharing ideas and building new partnerships that will help ensure FOI continues to thrive in the Philippines.
Mayor Yap’s participation in the summit reflects her strong belief in open and participatory governance.
“For us, FOI isn’t just about providing access to information—it’s about building trust with our people,” she said. “Through transparency, we make sure that our citizens are part of the decision-making process, which ultimately leads to better governance and a stronger, more connected community.”
As Tagbilaran City continues to set an example for good governance, the 2024 FOI Summit highlighted the importance of local leadership in driving transparency and accountability.
With initiatives like the Open Budget Presentation, the FOI workshop, and the ongoing work of the CPRIO, Mayor Yap and the City Government of Tagbilaran are making sure that transparency isn’t just a goal—it’s a practice that shapes everything they do.