THE University of Southeastern Philippines approved a total of 600 requests for information as of January 31 in compliance with Executive Order No. 02 series of 2016 or the executive issuance on freedom of information.

USEP said out of the 670 requests since July 2017, only 51 were denied, 14 others were referred to another agency, while five were closed as the party failed to provide the necessary information to process the request.

USEP said the executive issuance requires government agencies and institutions to be transparent and provide the public the information they need.

It added this is also part of the university’s commitment to good governance, accountability, and transparency.

EO2 grants access for Filipinos to have access to government records and help with policy development, which can only be denied if the ‘information falls under any of the exceptions enshrined in the Constitution, existing law or jurisprudence.’

These requests are free of charge, but must be accompanied by a written request to the government office concerned.