In your experience, do your national laws or administrative procedures set time limits within which information should be provided upon request?
In the discharge of our duties as Philippine government employees, we are guided by 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”, approved on February 20, 1989, and which took effect on March 25, 1989, conformably to Section 17 thereof and the following Rules are adopted and strictly followed in order to carry out the provisions of the said Code:
(e) Responsiveness to the public - Officials and employees shall extend prompt, courteous, and adequate service to the public. Unless otherwise provided by law or when required by the public interest, officials and employees shall provide information on their policies and procedures in clear and understandable language, ensure openness of information, public consultations and hearings whenever appropriate, encourage suggestions, simplify and systematize policy, rules and procedures, avoid red tape and develop an understanding and appreciation of the socio-economic conditions prevailing in the country, especially in the depressed rural and urban areas.
Rule VI : Duties of Public Officials and Employees
Section 1. As a general rule, when a request or petition, whether written or verbal, can be disposed of promptly and expeditiously the official and employee in charge to whom the same is presented shall do so immediately, without discrimination, and in no case beyond fifteen (15) working days from receipt of the request or petition.
Section 3. In case of written requests, petitions or motions, sent by means of letters, telegrams, or the like, the official or employee in charge shall act on the same within fifteen (15) working days from receipt thereof, provided that:
(b) If the communication is within the jurisdiction of the office or agency, the official and employee must:
(1) Write a note or letter of acknowledgement where the matter is merely routinary or the action desired may be acted upon in the ordinary course of business of the department, office or agency, specifying the date when the matter will be disposed of and the name of the official or employee in charge thereof.
(2) Where the matter is non-routinary or the issues involved are not simple or ordinary, write a note or letter of acknowledgement, informing the interested party, petitioner or correspondent of the action to be taken or when such requests, petitions or motions can be acted upon. Where there is a need to submit additional information, requirements, or documents, the note or letter of acknowledgement shall so state, specifying a reasonable period of time within which they should be submitted, and the name of the particular official or employee in charge thereof. When all the documents or requirements have been submitted to the satisfaction of the department or office or agency concerned, the particular official or employee in charge shall inform the interested party, petitioner, or correspondent of the action to be taken and when such action or disposition can be expected, barring unforeseen circumstances.
(c) If communication is outside its jurisdiction, the official or employee must:
(1) Refer the letter, petition, telegram, or verbal request to the proper department, office or agency.
(2) Acknowledge the communication by means of a note or letter, informing the interested party, petitioner, correspondent of the action taken and attaching a copy of the letter of the letter of referral to the proper department, office or agency.
The department, office or agency to which the letter, petition, telegram or verbal request was referred for appropriate action must take action in accordance with subsection (a), pars. 1 and 2 hereof.
The period of fifteen (15) working days herein provided shall be counted from the date of receipt of the written or verbal communication by the department, office or agency concerned.
Section 4. All official papers and documents must be processed and completed within a reasonable time from the preparation thereof. Reasonable time shall be determined in accordance with the following rules:
(b) When the law or the applicable rule issued in accordance therewith prescribes a period within which a decision is to be rendered or an action taken, the same shall be followed;
(c) When the law or the applicable rule issued in accordance therewith does not prescribe a period, the head of department, office or agency shall issue rules and regulations prescribing, among other things, what is reasonable time, taking into account the following factors:
(1) Nature, simplicity or complexity of the subject matter of the official papers of documents processed by said department, office or agency.
(2) Completeness or inadequacy of requirements or of data and information necessary for decision or action;
(3) Lack of resources caused by circumstances beyond the control of the department, office or agency or official or employee concerned;
(4) Legal constraints such as restraining orders and injunctions issued by proper judicial, quasi-judicial or administrative authorities; and
(5) Fault, failure or negligence of the party concerned which renders decision or action not possible or premature; and
(6) Fortuitous events or force majeure.
Section 6. All public documents must be made accessible to, and readily available for inspection by, the public during working hours, except those provided in Section 3. Rule IV.
Reference:
http://excell.csc.gov.ph/cscweb/RA6713.html;
