THE COMMISSION on Higher Education was recognized by the Presidential Communications Operations Office for promoting freedom of information.

The commission was the second runner-up during the 4th Freedom of Information Awards.

In a virtual ceremony held on November 25, CHED Chairman Prospero de Vera III accepted the award from PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar and Freedom of Information Program Director Assistant Secretary Kris Ablan.

The award recognizes significant strides of government agencies in upholding the public’s right to information.

“It is my honor and privilege to accept this award for CHED as a Freedom of Information Champion for 2020. This gives us an additional inspiration to work harder in ensuring freedom of information is fully implemented in CHED and in state universities and colleges. And equally important, that it is in the consciousness of more people especially students and the broader academic community,” De Vera said.

He admitted that promoting FOI in higher education is particularly challenging given the diverse stakeholders, the close to four hundred campuses of public universities scattered across the archipelago, and the huge number of students enrolled in public and private universities.

“CHED will continue to support PCOO and the whole of government in promoting the institutionalization of freedom of information not only in terms of institutional compliance but also in ensuring that students become aware of the power of knowledge derived from information available from agencies of government,” De Vera said.

The FOI Awards is an annual event that aims to recognize the contributions of government offices, state universities and colleges, and local water districts, to the development and progress of the PCOO’s FOI program.