The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) was inducted into the Hall of Fame for besting other national government agencies for three consecutive years as the champion of Freedom of Information (FOI).
The FOI Awards is given to government agencies, individuals, and organizations that champion public access to information, while the Hall of Fame Award is conferred to government agencies who have won for three consecutive years.
The Labor department said the awards were given by the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) during the 2020 FOI Awards ceremony at the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) in Quezon City, on Nov. 25.
In a statement, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said they are humbled by the yearly recognition bestowed on them for their adherence to the FOI Program.
“We have no plans of stopping this practice that has become a tradition,” he said.
“The challenges we face only drive us to be more committed for this cause,” added Bello.
He vowed to lead the DOLE in the continuing quest of empowering the people through information following his acceptance of the prestigious awards as FOI champion and Hall of Fame.
“As the FOI Program entails openness across the government, the department guarantees to remain committed in making an informed and empowered citizenry,” Bello said.
He added that it has been the practice of the DOLE over the past several years to advocate the highest level of transparency.
“Transparency and accountability are pillars of good governance which the DOLE upholds through its policies and programs,” said Bello.
“Even at the height of the pandemic and the prevalence of fake news, the Labor department did its best in communicating the real employment situation and true condition of the Filipino workers and employers,” Bello said.