Making Access to Information a Meaningful Right: The Freedom of Information Program One Year On

To promote better development, information sharing is a default practice that both ADB and the Government of the Philippines aim to promote and integrate into its internal culture. ADB, through its Philippine Country Office and Governance Thematic Group, acknowledges the need for combined efforts to push for the continuation and operationalization of freedom of information (FOI) work, particularly beyond its current scope and into the sphere of local government.

The Freedom of Information Program One Year On

In the one year that the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) has been the lead agency in implementing Executive Order No. 2 in the Philippines, it has managed to set some of the groundwork required in execution of the freedom of information (FOI) program. The online tools, exceptions, and manuals that were created provided the initial framework needed for adoption and implementation within agencies, which also led to the creation of incentive schemes such as performance-based bonus for having the FOI Manual in the agency’s transparency seal.

ADB Perspectives on Smart City

Project officers of ADB who are supporting the development of various smart cities projects share their experiences and updates in this presentation. As no universal definition exists for smart city, the commonalities identified from ADB’s smart cities projects were used as a starting point for creating one.

Citizen Satisfaction Index: Pakistan

A survey that identifies areas and cities in Pakistan where services are deficient and fall short of citizens’ satisfaction was designed by the Ministry of Planning Development and Reform in collaboration with UNDP Pakistan. Named as Citizen Satisfaction Index, the initiative provides periodic insights through a publicly-disclosed feedback loop for governance and service delivery and creates an accountability regime by encouraging public pressure and comparison.

ADB's Governance Thematic Group

Governance is one of ADB’s eight thematic groups that aims to leverage technical expertise on governance- and public sector management-related issues. The Governance Group’s mandate is to help ADB’s developing member countries improve development results by investing in public sector reforms and supporting improved performance of institutions; supporting identification and mitigation of governance risks in ADB operations; and focusing on capacity development.