TAGUIG CITY, Metro Manila—To further enhance compliance and reinforce its transparency mechanisms, PNOC held a Freedom of Information (FOI) Program Orientation on October 8, 2025, to refresh and reinforce awareness of FOI principles and requirements among its management officials and FOI officers.
Organized with the FOI-Program Management Office (FOI-PMO) of the Presidential Communications Office, the session covered the basics of the FOI Program, key policies, agency requirements, and the use of the eFOI Portal. It also highlighted best practices from other agencies on how FOI can be efficiently implemented, such as Pampanga State Agricultural University’s benchmarking activities and Bayawan Water District’s specialized training and digital tracking system.
In her opening remarks, PNOC Strategy Management Office Department Manager and FOI Decision Maker Alma B. Taganas emphasized that transparency is a core element of public trust.
“Transparency is not just a compliance requirement, but an essential part of how we continue to build trust with our stakeholders, partners, and the public we serve,” she said, noting that the company is updating its FOI Manual to align with the new leadership’s focus on good governance.
The orientation was attended by the company’s Department Managers and Division Chiefs, serving as a testament to PNOC’s commitment to upholding the objectives of the FOI program.
Resource speakers FOI-PMO Senior Compliance Monitoring Officer Dianne M. Gammad and Information and Communications Technology Officer Francis Nicolai P. Pallada discussed the program’s legal foundations, proper handling of information requests, and the responsibilities of agencies in ensuring timely and accurate disclosure of public information.
A significant part of the discussion focused on the inventory of exceptions, which is critical in helping PNOC integrate FOI practices into its business operations while protecting sensitive or legally exempt information.
Enabled by Executive Order No. 2, s. 2016, the FOI Program empowers citizens to request government-held information, except for data that is sensitive, legally exempt, or related to national security. It also supports proactive disclosure, wherein the principle of information provision shifts from a “need to know” basis to a “right to know” approach.
With this ongoing collaboration with the FOI-PMO, PNOC is actively embedding transparency in its operations and reinforcing its dedication to responsible governance in the energy sector.
