FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Need more information about PRA’s FOI Program?
**General Information**
The Freedom oflnformation (FOI) Program is the Government's response to the call for transparency and full public disclosure of information. FOI is a government mechanism, which allows Filipino citizens to request any information about government transactions and operations, provided that it shall not put into jeopardy - privacy and matters of national security.
The FOI mechanism for the Executive Branch is enabled via Executive Order (EO) No. 2, series of 2016.
**Making an FOI Request**
Confidential Information:
a. Information affecting the reputation of individuals or organizations related to the PRA or the OP or the Agency to which the PRA is attached;
b. Communications of the PRA, or the OP or other government offices like directives and other information whereby policy formation is still in progress;
c. Confidential Information considered as non-public information entrusted to or obtained by a member of the PRA Board or Officer by reason of her/his position as such with the PRA. It includes, but is not limited to, non-public information that customers/stakeholders if disclosed, such as (a) non-public information about the PRA's financial condition, prospects or plans, its marketing and sales programs and research and development information, as well as information relating to mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, stock splits and similar transactions; (b) non-public information concerning possible transactions or ventures with other companies or information about suppliers, joint venture partners or any information that the PRA is under obligation to keep confidential; and (c) non-public information about internal discussions, deliberations and decisions, between and among Directors and Officers:
d. Internal communications of the various offices of the PRA and minutes of the board meetings;
e.Information covered by the Attorney-client privilege between by the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC) and PRA
f. Information that are proprietary in nature;
g. Information for general disclosure but not yet completed or contingent upon the accomplishment of other actions or the existence of certain conditions.
Inventory of Exceptions:
1. Information covered by Executive privilege;
2. Privileged information relating to national security, defense or international relations;
3. Information concerning law enforcement and protection of public and personal safety;
4. Information deemed confidential for the protection of the privacy of persons and certain individuals such as minors, victims of crimes, or the accused;
5. Information, documents or records known by reason of official capacity and are deemed as confidential, including those submitted or disclosed by entities to government agencies, tribunals, boards, or officers, in relation to the performance of their functions, or to inquiries or investigation conducted by them in the exercise of their administrative, regulatory or quasi-judicial powers;
6. Prejudicial premature disclosure;
7. Records or proceedings or information from proceedings which, pursuant to law or relevant rules and regulations, are treated as confidential or privileged
8. Matters considered confidential under banking and finance laws, and their amendatory laws; and
9. Other exceptions to the right to information under laws, jurisprudence, rules and regulations.
There are two (2) modes of filing an FOI request:
1. Standard Mode of Filing; and
| Mode of filing | Requirements | Where to file | |
| 1 | Standard mode (Either walk in or thru electronic mail) | 1. Pormularyo ng Kahilingan or FOI Request Form
2. Valid proof of identification or authorization |
Temporary Office Address since February 2022 until further notice
RECORDS SECTION Ground Floor, PNOC, Building 3, PNOC Compound, Rizal Drive Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City If thru electronic mail: [email protected] |
| 2 | Electronic FOI portal | 1. FOI portal form
2. Valid proof of identification or authorization |
www.foi.gov.ph |
| e- FOI portal procedure:
1. Proceed to www.foi.gov.ph 2. Requesting party is required to create an e-FOI account. 3. Click the Log-in button and enter the email address and password. 4. Once logged-in, the user will be directed to the Dashboard. The Dashboard contains all the requests done by the account owner. 5. Click the Make a Request Once clicked, the user may choose the name of the agency, Philippine Reclamation Authority. 6. The same process of clarification, retrieval, and approval of release applies to the e-FOl platform. 7. Once approved, the response will be posted to the user's Dashboard. |
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The FOI Receiving Officer will send an acknowledgment receipt to the requestor on the day of receipt of the FOI request.
For client steps and agency actions pertaining to FOI requests, you may visit and browse the Citizen's Charter Tab in our website.
**Processing Times**
The PRA shall respond to requests for information within fifteen (15) working days from receipt of a fully compliant FOl request. lf the request was made through standard mode, it may be released to the requesting party either through regular courier, to be picked-up by the requesting party, or electronic mail. On the other hand, if the request was made through the e-FOI portal, the response shall be uploaded by the FOI Evaluating and Recommending Office (FERO) to the portal.
If the information requested requires extensive search of the PRA office records facilities, examination of voluminous records, the occurrence of fortuitous events or
| More than 50 pages | 1.33 per page |
| A4 size (Colored) | FREE |
| 20 pages and below | |
| More than 20 pages | 4.00 per page |
Yes. The PRA may exempt any requesting party from payment of fees, upon request stating the valid reason on why such requesting party shall not pay fees.
In case the requesting party cannot pay the required fees, the PRA may provide digital or electronic copy.
**Denial of Request**
A request for information may be denied based on the following grounds:
1. The information requested falls under the exceptions under the inventory of exceptions of EO 02, series of 2016, as provided in OP-MC No. 89 dated 13 September 2021 and such issuances that may be issued;
2. The information is Confidential Information as defined in the PRA FOI People's Manual;
3. The request is an unreasonable subsequent identical or substantially similar request from the same requesting party whose request has already been previously granted or denied by the PRA; or
4. The request is a vexatious request.
A person whose request for access to information has been denied may avail himself of the remedy set forth below:
1. File a written appeal to the FOI Appeal Body (FAB), through the PRA Governing Board, within fifteen (15) working days from the notice of denial or from the lapse of the period to respond the request.
2. The appeal shall be decided by the FAB within thirty (30) working days from filing of the written appeal.
3. The denial of the appea] by the FAB or the lapse of the period to respond to the appeal may be elevated for appeal to the Office of the President.
Upon exhaustion of administrative FOI appeal remedies, the requesting party may file the appropriate judicial action in accordance with the Rules of Court.