Institutionalizing transparent governance Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III Freedom of Information Awards Presidential Communications Operations Office Manila Peninsula, Makati December 12, 2019 Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Congressman Alfred Vargas, Secretary Karlo Nograles, Secretary Martin Andanar, Assistant Secretary Kristian Ablan, Director Redempto Parafina, fellow public servants, good afternoon. In behalf of all the employees and officers of the Department of Labor and Employment, I thank the Presidential Communications Operations Office for shortlisting and recognizing DOLE’s Freedom of Information Program. Since our assumption at the Labor Department, we immediately initiated programs at the DOLE in answer to our President’s directive to all public servants to bring government to the people, improve public services, and ensure inclusive growth for all. Our reforms focused on institutional reforms that strengthened DOLE’s mandate to improve gainful employment, sustain workers’ rights and welfare, ensure industrial peace, and secure the rights of our migrant workers and OFWs. But underpinning these reforms were our thrust to improve service efficiency, promote optimum transparency, and ensure public accountability. Public trust is important for us for the President doesn’t tolerate inefficiency and, we all know, that he does not countenance corruption from anyone in government. Again, our gratitude to the PCOO for recognizing our efforts at institutionalizing transparent governance. These initiatives include: substantially reducing our Average Processing Time, having a constantly updated FOI Manual, ensuring a refined “No-Wrong-Door Policy,” instituting dynamic visibility and feedback mechanisms, and a sound information platform. For us, the FOI Award is a validation of our unwavering commitment and support to the President’s instructions against corruption and inefficiency. We ascribe our FOI headways to the leadership of our FOI Team and the commitment of the entire DOLE family toward excellence and integrity. Thank you. .