DOF Communications Plan for its Undersecretaries and Heads of Agencies

October 13, 2014 DOF MEMORANDUM FOR : All Undersecretaries, and Heads of Bureaus and Agencies Attached under the DOF THRU : Ma. Lourdes B. Recente Assistant Secretary, Chief of Staff to the Secretary of Finance SUBJECT : DOF Communications Plan for its Undersecretaries and Heads of Agencies This is to inform all Undersecretaries of the Department of Finance, and heads of bureaus and agencies of the Department's intent to play a more assertive role in addressing issues and concerns from the media. 1. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 12 of Republic Act No. 6713, otherwise known as the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, conformably to Section 17, the Rule on Transparency of Transaction and Access to Information is to be implemented diligently and promptly. 2. In summary, the Rule states that it is the responsibility of heads of departments, offices and agencies to ensure transparency in their respective offices in implementing full public disclosure of all its transactions involving public interest, providing official information, records or documents to the requesting public immediately or in no case beyond 15 working days from receipt of request, without discrimination except if such information: THAICD a) must be kept secret in the interest of national defense or security or the conduct of foreign affairs; b) would put the life and safety of an individual in imminent danger; c) falls within the concepts of established privilege or recognized exceptions as may be provided by law or settled policy or jurisprudence; d) comprises drafts of decisions, orders, rulings, policy decisions, memoranda, etc.; e) it would disclose information the premature disclosure of which would (i) in the case of a department, office or agency which agency regulates currencies, securities, commodities, or financial institutions, be likely to lead to significant financial speculation in currencies, securities, or commodities, or significantly endanger the stability of any financial institution; or (ii) in the case of any department, office or agency be likely or significantly to frustrate implementation of a proposed official action. 3. If the request is outside the Department's jurisdiction, Undersecretaries and heads of all agencies and bureaus must acknowledge receipt of the letter and copy the proponent to inform through the same channel it that request was forwarded to concerned office for appropriate action. CSHEca 4. The head of an office or agency may prescribe, through a memorandum, a spokesperson, for a certain period of time, in his/her behalf and will be acknowledged in the press as such to address topics within their function. 5. In line with this, Undersecretaries will be required to schedule at least one press conference in every quarter of the year to proactively report on its group's achievements, as well as its plans moving forward. If they fail to provide a preferred date, the Office of the Secretary will provide a date for them. 6. The Office of the Secretary will actively find opportunities for all heads to provide economic briefs, speaking roles in conferences, dialogues, meetings and workshops to provide more active roles outside the institution. Until the Department's Public Information Unit materializes, the Office of the Secretary may provide the necessary requirements through its Public Relations officer. Thank you. (SGD.) CESAR V. PURISIMA Secretary