Out of 100+ SUCs in PH, Southern Leyte State U is named 2021 FOI awardee 1st runner-up
The Southern Leyte State University (SLSU) was awarded as FOI (Freedom of Information) Champion 1st runner-up in the 2021 FOI Awards under the FOI Champion for the State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) category during the celebration of the fifth year implementation of the FOI program in the Philippines held on Thursday, November 25, at Radisson Blu, Cebu City.
The award was given to SLSU for its exceptional and significant contribution to FOI's progress and development. In a virtual ceremony, University President Dr. Prose Ivy G. Yepes, together with the FOI Heads of the Main Campus and San Juan Campus, Dr. Richard Lago and Dr. Frederico Paler, respectively, accepted the award from Undersecretary Kristian R. Ablan and Assistant Secretary Florentino Y. Layola, Jr. of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO). The award recognizes significant strides of state universities and colleges in upholding the right to information of the public.
Being one of the top 3 FOI champions among SUCs, SLSU is a higher education institution that champions and advocates FOI and transparency. The University believes that transparency is a core element of good governance.
"Establishing SLSU's FOI manual and unit was our initiative as public servants in higher education institution to prioritize public accountability and the equal treatment of all people under the rule of law," President Yepes said, emphasizing that FOI is one of the university's quality procedures complying the standards of ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System (QMS) standard.
President Yepes said that SLSU will continue to support FOI initiatives to further champion transparency and accountability, promote good governance, and empower Filipino citizens through access to information.
Being the lone university in the province of Southern Leyte, SLSU has been supportive in the implementation of the Freedom of Information given that it has seen the importance of public transparency and honesty.
"Taking this commitment seriously, rest assured that SLSU supports and will continue to support the initiatives to ensure the institutionalization of FOI in our university amidst the COVID-19 pandemic," President Yepes added.
Hailed as this year's FOI Champion is the University of Southeastern Philippines while Southern Luzon State University is named FOI Champion 2nd runner-up.
The FOI Awards is an annual event that aims to recognize the remarkable contributions to the FOI Program of government offices in the executive branch, including government-owned and controlled corporations, state universities and colleges, and local water districts, in promoting open, transparent, and accountable governance.