The Philippines reaffirmed its commitment to the right to information as it hosts the Global Conference of the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) 2025, with the theme “Ensuring Access to Environmental Information in the Digital Age.”

“The Philippines is honored and proud to host this year’s conference, especially as we commemorate the 10th anniversary of the designation of September 28 as the International Day for Universal Access to Information,” Presidential Communications Office Acting Secretary Dave Gomez said during the opening ceremony at the Hilton Newport World Resorts in Pasay City.

“As the first country in Southeast Asia to host the IDUAI, this celebration is a meaningful recognition of our continuing commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 16.10: ensuring public access to information as a fundamental human right,” Gomez said in his speech.

Co-hosted by the Philippine government and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the two-day conference gathered government decision-makers, international experts, Information commissioners, journalists and civil society leaders from more than 30 countries.

The delegates are expected to discuss how policies that guarantee access to environmental information strengthen regional cooperation, disaster preparedness, and climate action, and advance sustainable development and environmental justice.

Gomez said the Philippines affirms its commitment to the right to information through Article III, Section 7 of the 1987 Constitution, which recognizes the people’s right to Information on matters of public concern.

This constitutional right was operationalized by Executive Order No. 2, series of 2016, which established the Freedom of Information (FOI) Program across the Executive Branch.

“Today, under the vision of the Bagong Pilipinas campaign—which, for our international guests, translates to New Philippines—we envision a government that is not only for the people but also with the people,” Gomez said.

“A government that listens, informs, and empowers its citizens, because only with an informed citizenry can we build a truly democratic nation.”

Gomez said over the past nine years, the PCO has worked to institutionalize the FOI Program through the FOI Program Management Office.

This has involved maintaining the eFOI portal, expanding localization efforts, and launching nationwide capacity-building programs, as well as countering misinformation and disinformation through credible and accessible public data, the PCO Acting Secretary said.

“We continue to empower our local governments to become FOI-ready, bringing FOI closer to every Filipino,” Gomez said. | PND