Organisation : Philippines Government
Facility Name : Electronic Freedom of Information eFOI Request
Applicable For : Filipino Citizen
Country : Philippines
Website : https://www.foi.gov.ph/
Electronic Freedom of Information
The Freedom of Information (FOI) Program is the Government’s response to the call for transparency and full public disclosure of information.
Related / Similar Facility :
FOI is a government mechanism, which allows Filipino citizens to request any information about government transactions and operations, provided that it shall not put into jeopardy – privacy and matters of national security.
eFOI
The Freedom of Information (FOI) Program is the Government’s response to the call for transparency and full public disclosure of information. FOI is a government mechanism, which allows Filipino citizens to request any information about government transactions and operations, provided that it shall not put into jeopardy – privacy and matters of national security. The FOI rules and exceptions also apply to the eFOI platform.
Who Can Make An FOI Request?
Any Filipino citizen can make an FOI Request. As a matter of policy, requestors are required to present proof of identification.
How Do I Make An FOI Request?
The request process slightly varies depending on which platform is used.
FOI Platform
** Place your request in writing by filling out a request form and submit the form to the agency’s Receiving Officer (Download the form here).
** State your full name and contact information, and provide a valid copy of your government-issued ID as proof of your identity. Describe in detail the document you wish to access.
** The Receiving Officer shall validate the request and will log it accordingly on the FOI tracker or registry.
** If deemed necessary, the Receiving Officer may clarify the request on the same day it was filed, such as specifying the information requested, and providing other assistance needed by the Requestor.
** The request will be forwarded to the Decision Maker for proper assessment. The Decision Maker shall check if the agency holds the information requested, if it is already accessible, or if the request is a repeat of any previous request.
** The request shall be forwarded to the officials involved to locate the requested information.
** Once all relevant information are retrieved, officials will check if any exemptions apply, and will recommend appropriate response to the request.
** If necessary, the head of the agency shall provide clearance to the response.
** The agency shall prepare the information for release, based on your desired format. It shall be sent to you depending on the receipt preference.
eFOI Platform
Like the paper-based FOI platform, requests made through the eFOI platform will be automatically sent to the agencies concerned for immediate processing.
You will be required to create an eFOI account. Through this account, you will see a dashboard of your FOI requests, and the results of your FOI requests.
eFOI Requestors must create/log in to his/her account:
** Click the Log-in button and enter the email address and password.
** In case the requestor is a new user, click the Sign-up button, and provide the required information.
** Once logged-in, the user will be directed to the Dashboard. The Dashboard contains all the requests done by the account owner.
** Click the Make a Request button. Once clicked, the user may choose the name of the agency.
** User will be directed to the Make a Request Page. Complete the required fields. Once sent, the request will be forwarded to the Receiving Officer of the concerned agency.
** The same process of clarification, retrieval, and approval of release applies to the eFOI platform.
** Once approved, the response will be posted to the user’s Dashboard.
Application Fee
There are no fees to make a request. But the agency may charge a reasonable fee for necessary costs, including costs of printing, delivery, reproduction and/or photocopying.
Processing Time
The standard processing time is fifteen (15) working days. You will be receiving a response either granting or denying your request. If the request is granted, you can expect to receive the documents as an attachment, through the eFOI portal, email, or be requested to collect the documents at the agency you had applied to. If the request is denied, the agency will give an explanation on the denial.