Description
Reform Description
The open gov challenge of the FOI Philippines seeks to address a critical open governance challenge: ensuring that access to information is genuinely inclusive and responsive at the local level.
Despite the passage of eighty-nine (89) local FOI Ordinances in the country, implementation remains uneven due to gaps in capacity, limited guidance, and varying levels of commitment.
This open gov challenge proposes a co-creation process with local governments, civil society organizations, academia, and grassroots stakeholders to design a comprehensive and context-sensitive localization framework for the FOI Program.
The framework will serve as a roadmap for LGUs in operationalizing FOI in their localities, giving them support with proper, adaptable, and practical models, as well as capacity-building mechanisms that are aligned with open government values.
The initiative will focus on strengthening transparency, public participation, and accountability through local FOI implementation. Co-creation workshops and consultations will be conducted nationwide to capture diverse perspectives and tailor the framework to different governance realities. Outputs will include a policy guidebook, a digital toolkit, and an implementation scorecard co-designed with stakeholders. This reform action aims to institutionalize access to information at the grassroots level, making local governments more open, responsive, and citizen-centered—ultimately contributing to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 16 on peace, justice, and strong institutions, and realizing the open government values.
Problem(s) Addressed by Reform
The specific public problems the action reform are trying to address are the following
- Absence of a concrete co-created strategy to localize the FOI Program
- Addresses common concerns of local government units (LGUs) FOI implementers in terms of operationalizing the FOI Program
- Uneven implementation of the local FOI Program at the
- Streamlined processes and approach to providing capacity to implementers
The co-creation of the localization framework of the FOI Program for LGUs directly addresses the persistent gap between national transparency initiatives and local government implementation efforts. While the Philippines has made progress in advancing FOI at the executive level, many LGUs are still confronted by systemic barriers, including but not limited to institutional guidance, limited technical capacity, and fragmented implementation practices.
Adopting a co-creation approach redefines how FOI is localized–moving away from a one-size-fits-all model to one that is inclusive, responsive, and collaboratively developed.
Through multi-stakeholder consultations, participatory design workshops, and open policy dialogue, the framework will be grounded in real community needs and various local governance realities.
This open gov challenge will empower LGUs with practical tools and adaptive strategies to localize the FOI Program, enhance citizen oversight mechanisms, and institutionalize open information practices.
By doing so, the initiative strengthens local transparency and accountability and reinforces the foundation of participatory democracy, advancing the broader goals of open government and sustainable development.
Relevance to OGP Values
The action or reform directly advances open government values by institutionalizing transparency and public accountability at the grassroots level.
By employing a participatory approach, it empowers local governments and communities to collaboratively design mechanisms that ensure timely, relevant, and accurate access to information, enabling citizens to actively engage in governance processes, monitor public service delivery, and hold officials accountable. This action or reform relates heavily to open government values by fostering a culture of openness, inclusivity, and trust between citizens and local authorities.
Intended Results
The intended results of the commitment at the end of the implementation period are the following:
- Developed a co-created framework for the localization of the FOI Program
- Strengthened FOI Program localization objectives and activities
- Capacitated LGU implementers in operationalizing the local FOI Program/FOI Ordinances
- An increased number of local governments across provincial, city, and municipal levels
- Amplified engagement with civil society leaders in promoting their civic participation to localize the FOI Program
Milestones
The following are the major milestones and activities that the office will work towards within the timeline:
- Conceptualize the strategy for launching the co-creation of the FOI Program Localization campaign of the FOI-PMO
- Convene think tank groups and organizations that will form part of the co-creation of the framework
- Consultation with concerned stakeholders and groups for the co-creation of the framework
- Development of the co-created framework
- Continued capacitation for the LGU implementers and civil society
Is Civil Society Involved?
Yes. Civil society organizations in the Philippines supporting the FOI Program will be heavily engaged in shaping the action/reform. CSOs will form part the technical working group for the conceptualization of the strategy for the launching of the co-creation of the FOI Program localization strategy. Moreover, CSOs will be part of the consultation meetings and activities across various sectors to gather feedback and recommendations for the commitment. PCO-FOI-PMO will also continuously capacitate CSOs in engaging with the LGUs in advocating for the localized FOI Program.