In observance of Open Government Week 2026, Carlos Hilado Memorial State University (CHMSU) held the Freedom of Information (FOI) Drive: Enhancing Transparency and Institutional Compliance symposium at the Function Hall of its Talisay (Main) Campus on May 18, 2026.
Organized by the Records Management Unit (RMU), the activity brought together university officials, faculty, and staff for a morning of discussion centered on the importance of transparency and accountability — key responsibilities of government agencies, including state universities.
Open Gov Week is a global initiative led by the Open Government Partnership (OGP) that brings together governments, civil society, and citizens to celebrate openness, transparency, and collaboration in public life. Held annually every May, it is a week where governments open their doors — online and offline — to share, listen, and collaborate with citizens.
CIER / Keith Brandon Cari-an photos
In his message, University President Norberto Mangulabnan emphasized the importance of maintaining transparency across all offices and processes.
The symposium featured lectures on FOI and transparency delivered by Vice President for Administration and Finance Jay Estrellas and RMU Head Rebecca Gegantoni.
VP Estrellas, who also serves as the university’s FOI Decision Maker, presented case studies on transparency and discussed the laws and policies governing data privacy and freedom of information — including Republic Act No. 10173, or the Data Privacy Act of 2012, and Executive Order No. 2, series of 2016, the Freedom of Information order.
RMU Head Gegantoni, the university’s FOI Receiving Officer, provided an overview of how CHMSU processes right-to-information requests through the foi.gov.ph online platform, and shared examples of requests previously handled by the unit. All processed FOI requests are made publicly available through the FOI website.
The resource speakers then answered questions during the open forum segment of the program.
In their messages during the program, OIC Chief Administrative Officer – Administrative Division Sharon Juance, and Human Resource Development Officer Cristine Redoblo thanked the participants for joining the symposium and encouraged them to treat the activity as fuel to embody transparency and accountability as civil servants.
The activity also coincided with the Anti-Graft and Corruption Awareness Month, observed every May pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 591, series of 2004.
Meanwhile, Pres. Mangulabnan also took the occasion to congratulate the College of Education on its recent milestone in the March 2026 Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers (LET), where CHMSU ranked 7th among the Top Performing Schools at the Elementary Level, with a passing rate of 96.43%. He likewise recognized two standout topnotchers: Kim Patricia Espinosa, who placed 5th in the Secondary Education level with a score of 94.20%, and Nera Andre Quinto, who placed 8th in the Elementary Education level with a score of 93.20%.
