Department of Tourism(DOT)

Hi, 

This is to request the following documents from your Department: 
1. The status of the preparation of Devolution Transition Plans pursuant to EO 138, 2021. 
2. A copy of the Devolution Transition Plan that the Department submitted to the Committee for Devolution. 

This is for academic research purposes. 

Regards, 
Lawrence Velasco

January 3, 2023

Dear Mr. Velasco,

Thank you for your request dated January 03, 2023 under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch, for Devolution Transition Plans.

We received your request on January 03, 2023 and will respond on or before January 24, 2023 01:43:38 PM, in accordance with the Executive Order's implementing rules and regulations.

Likewise, please be informed that the standard processing period is fifteen (15) working days but it can be extended for another twenty (20) working days for complex requests.

Should you have any questions regarding your request, kindly contact me using the reply function on the eFOI portal at https://pcoomaster10032017130000-dot-efoi-ph.appspot.com/requests/aglzfmVmb2ktcGhyHQsSB0NvbnRlbnQiEERPVC00MjkzNDY4NTU1MzgM, for request with ticket number #DOT-429346855538.

Thank you.


Respectfully yours,

Maricel C. Malalad
DOT FOI Receiving Officer

4 January 2023

Dear Mr. Velasco,

We refer to your letter dated 3 January 2023 01:43:38 PM about your request for the DOT Devolution Transition Plan, made under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch.

Before processing your request, please ensure that your request is fully compliant with Sections 13.3.b, 13.4, and 13.5.d of the Revised DOT FOI Manual by providing the following:

•Reasonable description of the information requested. In particular, it would be helpful to know the exact/specific information that you wish to request and its exact/specific covered period; - kindly indicate the period for the devolution transition plan (ex. 2021 or 2022)

•Specific reason for, or purpose of, the request for information. Please note that general averments such as “for research”, “for information”, “for legal purposes” or other similarly worded purposes shall NOT be considered to have met the requirements of specificity; - kindly specify how the data will be used by providing the name/title of research/ thesis/ study you are conducting with a brief background. 

•If the requesting party is a natural person who is a member, employee, affiliated with, or related to a juridical entity, company, or organization, and the request is made not on behalf of such juridical entity, a company, or organization but arises from such membership, affiliation or relation, such other sufficient proof of authority. For example, for an employee or member, a copy of the company or organization I.D.; or for students, a copy of the school I.D., or written endorsement of the supervising teacher, professor, or instructor. Kindly send it via email at [email protected].

The Revised DOT FOI Manual is accessible at http://tourism.gov.ph/transparency_seal.aspx

You may use the reply function on the eFOI portal at https://foi.gov.ph/requests/aglzfmVmb2ktcGhyHQsSB0NvbnRlbnQiEERPVC00MjkzNDY4NTU1MzgM, for request with ticket number #DOT-429346855538, to respond.

While we await your reply, your request will be put on hold. If we do not receive a reply on or before 29 March 2023 07:30:31 AM, your request will be closed.

We hope to hear from you at the soonest possible time.

Thank you.

Respectfully,

Atty. Jennifer A. Olba
Acting DOT FOI Decision Maker

Dear DOT, here are my responses: 

•Reasonable description of the information requested. In particular, it would be helpful to know the exact/specific information that you wish to request and its exact/specific covered period; - kindly indicate the period for the devolution transition plan (ex. 2021 or 2022)

Devolution Transition Plan 2021- in particular the version in compliance with EO 138, s. 2021. 

•Specific reason for, or purpose of, the request for information. Please note that general averments such as “for research”, “for information”, “for legal purposes” or other similarly worded purposes shall NOT be considered to have met the requirements of specificity; - kindly specify how the data will be used by providing the name/title of research/ thesis/ study you are conducting with a brief background. 

The title of the research is "Taking Stock on the Implementation of Mandanas Ruling." The research will look into the planned devolution by different agencies and will be matched against the capacity, personnel, and other resources that LGUs will receive as a result of Mandanas Ruling. The common thinking is that LGUs will be able to afford all of these devolved services. This study will take stock as to whether they really can (based on the DTPs of each NGA), and what gaps remain despite higher funding due to Mandanas. 

•If the requesting party is a natural person who is a member, employee, affiliated with, or related to a juridical entity, company, or organization, and the request is made not on behalf of such juridical entity, a company, or organization but arises from such membership, affiliation or relation, such other sufficient proof of authority. For example, for an employee or member, a copy of the company or organization I.D.; or for students, a copy of the school I.D., or written endorsement of the supervising teacher, professor, or instructor. Kindly send it via email at [email protected].

I am a PhD student (Public Policy) of the National University of Singapore. See attached Status Letter.

9 January 2023

Dear Mr. Velasco,

Thank you for your response dated 6 January 2023 via the eFOI portal, regarding our request for compliance with Sections 13.3.b, 13.4, and 13.5.d of the Revised DOT FOI Manual.

We have now continued processing your request. Kindly give us until 30 January 2023 01:43 PM to respond regarding our findings.

Should you have any questions regarding your request, kindly contact us using the reply function on the eFOI portal at https://www.foi.gov.ph/requests/aglzfmVmb2ktcGhyHQsSB0NvbnRlbnQiEERPVC00MjkzNDY4NTU1MzgM, for request with ticket number #DOT-429346855538.

Thank you.

Respectfully,

Atty. Jennifer A. Olba
Acting DOT FOI Decision Maker

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, the DOT's Devolution Transition Plan has yet to be approved by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), as required under Rule V Section 12 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Executive Order No. 138 s. 2021.

As such, we are constrained to deny your request under Section 6 (b) of Office of the President Memorandum Circular No. 89, which exempts from the right to access to information such information which a premature disclosure would be likely to frustrate the implementation of a proposed official action.

Rest assured, however, that once the DBM approves the DOT's DTP, we will be able to provide a copy of the same.

As to the status of the preparation of the DOT Devolution Transition Plan, upon inquiry with the responsible office, the DOT DTP is undergoing revisions following the 2nd in-depth evaluation of the DBM.

10 January 2023

Dear Mr. Velasco,

Greetings!

Thank you for your request dated 3 January 2023 01:43:38 PM under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch.

Your request

You asked for a copy of the DOT Devolution Transition Plan.

Response to your request

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, the DOT's Devolution Transition Plan has yet to be approved by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), as required under Rule V Section 12 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Executive Order No. 138 s. 2021.

As such, we are constrained to deny your request under Section 6 (b) of Office of the President Memorandum Circular No. 89, which exempts from the right to access to information such information which a premature disclosure would be likely to frustrate the implementation of a proposed official action.

Rest assured, however, that once the DBM approves the DOT's DTP, we will be able to provide a copy of the same.

As to the status of the preparation of the DOT Devolution Transition Plan, upon inquiry with the responsible office, the DOT DTP is undergoing revisions following the 2nd in-depth evaluation of the DBM.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with our response to your FOI request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review by writing a letter or email addressed to Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco of the Department of Tourism and sending it through the email address: [email protected]. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with the response and should be made within 15 working days from the date when you received this response. We will complete the review and tell you the result within 30 working days from the date when we receive your request for review.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Office of the President under Administrative Order No. 22 (s. 2011).

Feedback

Additionally, for us to be able to provide you with better services, may we request you to accomplish the DOT FOI Request Feedback Form: 
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSePz8rTG_IWrLgkIGCbNu39mM4Ms7XauR9LVUiE-6y8QCxyPg/viewform

Thank you.

Respectfully,

Atty. Jennifer A. Olba
Acting DOT FOI Decision Maker