President Marcos' press secretary has urged lawmakers to pass the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill into law amid the clamor for transparency and accountability in the flood control project anomalies.

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Dave Gomez made the call during his speech at the opening of the Global Conference of the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) 2025 in Pasay City.

“This week, we heard the voices of Filipinos loudly calling, clamoring for an FOI Law,” Gomez said.

“I take this opportunity to urge our lawmakers, civil society leaders, and fellow public servants to come together in finally enacting the Right to Information Bill for the Philippines, one that upholds global standards and empowers our democracy,” Gomez added.

The press secretary stressed that passing the measure is crucial, especially in a country like the Philippines which is among the most vulnerable in the world to natural disasters.

“In a nation like ours, where natural disasters are an ever-present threat, access to environmental data is not just a matter of governance—it is a matter of survival,” Gomez said.

“Through technology, we must ensure that communities, especially the most vulnerable, have the information they need to stay safe, plan, and thrive,” he added.

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

It 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 official said.

The Philippines is the first country in Southeast Asia to host the Global Conference of the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI).

Gomez said this year’s theme, “Ensuring Access to Environmental Information in the Digital Age,” could not be more timely.

During the conference, participants will engage in meaningful dialogues on how governments and civil society can better promote environmental data transparency, harness digital technologies, and address the challenges of climate change through the provision of accurate, timely, and relevant information.

Gomez said the Philippines is proud to host the global access to information community once again, after hosting the 14th Edition of the International Conference of Information Commissioners in 2023.

He underscored that these platforms are vital in strengthening international cooperation and regional solidarity for open, participatory governance.

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.