Rama asked to reconsider rule on media access

CEBU, Philippines- Some Cebu City councilors asked Mayor Michael Rama to reconsider the new policy he implemented in the City Hall which limits media access to department heads and instead, coursing interviews through the Public Information Office.

According to department heads, they are discouraged to talk if they are not prepared or if the mayor will not give them clearance.

Councilor Edgardo Labella said the Philippine Constitution provides that any information on matters of public concern must not be denied to any individual unless the matter is in the interest of national security or public safety.

“So I think along that line, anybody, a public official should not be prevented from commenting or answering questions that are matters of public concern. It is guaranteed by the constitution. If it has something to do with their public functions, why not answer?” Labella said.

Under Article III or the Bill of Rights, Section 7 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, “the right of the people to information on matters of public concern shall be recognized.”

Access to official records, and to documents and papers pertaining to official acts, transactions, or decisions, as well as to government research data used as basis for policy development, shall be afforded the citizen, subject to such limitations as may be provided by law.

He said that coursing the release of information to the PIO is a good practice but this should not prevent any official from answering when they are asked.

“We are all public officials, we are answerable, we are accountable to the people, so if you can answer, why not? This is a democratic country, that’s the essence of democracy. Freedom,” he said.

“I hope that the Mayor will reconsider because we have nothing to hide,” Labella added.

Allowing easy media access, he said, shows that this administration upholds maximum transparency and accountability.

Labella said that the council will function independently from the executive department and will keep all information accessible to the public. He said, however, that the council was not met by the mayor regarding the order.

For Councilor Margot Osmeña, department heads were put in their position because they are responsible and because they have the knowledge of their field so they should be prepared to answer questions all the time.

“I don’t want to say it’s right or wrong but I do know that department heads are such because they do have the talent and they are responsible people. I would like to say that we can work with people whom we trust and we work together because we acknowledge each other’s talent,” Osmeña said.