OVERVIEW
A. Purpose: The purpose of this Freedom of Information Manual (FOIM) is to provide the processes to guide and assist the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in dealing with requests for information received under Executive Order (E.O.) No. 2 on Freedom of Information (FOI). (Annex “A”)
B. Structure of the FOI Manual: This Manual shall set out the rules and procedures to be followed by NIA and all its offices nationwide, when a request for access to information is received. The NIA Administrator is responsible for all actions carried out under this Manual. The NIA Administrator shall designate the Deputy Administrator for Engineering and Operations for engineering and operations matters and the Deputy Administrator for Administrative and Finance for administrative and finance matters to act as FOI Decision Maker (FOI-DM) who shall have overall responsibility for the initial decision on FOI requests (i.e., to decide whether to release all the records, partially release the records or deny access). At the Regional / Operations / Project Office level, the FOI Decision Maker is lodged with the Regional/Operations/Project Manager.
C. Coverage of the FOI Manual: The Manual shall cover all requests for information directed to NIA and all its offices nationwide, as follows:
1. All Offices at NIA Central Office (CO), including CO-Based Project Management Offices;
2. Regional Offices 1-13, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Magat River Integrated Irrigation System (MRIIS), Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation System (UPRIIS), and Negros Island Region (NIR), and all Irrigation Management Offices (IMO);
3. Project offices, namely: Agno River Irrigation System Extension Project (ARISEP), Casecnan Multipurpose Irrigation and Power Project-Phase II (CMIPP II), Balog-balog Multipurpose Project Phase 2 (BBMP 2), Jalaur River Multipurpose Project Stage II (JRMP II), Pinipisakan Irrigation Project, Umayam River Irrigation Project (URIP), and Malitubog - Maridagao Irrigation Project Phase II (MMIP II). In the event that a new project office is created, it shall be included in the coverage as defined in this provision.
D. FOI Receiving Officer (FRO): There shall be an FOI Receiving Officer (FRO) designated at the NIA Central and Field Offices. At the NIA Central Office, the FRO shall be the Department Manager of the Public Affairs and Information 2 Staff. The FRO shall hold office at the Office of the Public Affairs and Information Staff, Ground floor Building A, National Irrigation Administration, EDSA, Diliman, Quezon City. Its direct line is 921-3741. Trunk line is 929- 6071 local 113 and 119. At the Regional/Operations/Project Offices, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) shall be designated as the FRO. In the absence of a PRO, the Head of Office shall designate one. FRO should also be designated at the IMO level, if necessary. List of FRO in all NIA offices nationwide is attached as Annex “B”. The functions of the FRO shall include receiving on behalf of the NIA and all its offices nationwide, all requests for information and forwarding same to the appropriate office which has custody of the records; monitoring all FOI requests and appeals; providing assistance to the FOI Decision Maker; providing assistance and support to the public and staff with regard to FOI; compiling statistical information as required; and, conducting initial evaluation of the request and advising concerned person requesting the information.