07/19/11 – Persistent doubts about how resources are allocated have led Mexico’s Federal Institute for Access to Public Information (Instituto Federal de Acceso a la Información y Protección de Datos Personales, IFAI) to order the Mexican state-owned petroleum company Pemex to publicly reveal its expenditures. After hearing the challenges presented by he Petroleum Workers’ Union of Mexico (Sindicato de Trabajadores Petroleros de la República Mexicana, STPRM) against an earlier resolution in which IFAI had ordered that certified records dating from January 2000 to May 25, 2007 documenting the amount of public resources Pemex received and turned over to the Union be released and made publicly available, the Sixteenth District Administrative Judge of the Federal District confirmed IFAI’s resolution and ordered Pemex to comply with it. Various news sources have reported that although Pemex had previously released such data from 2000, 2005, 2006, and 2007, it has yet to disclose information from 2001-2004.
IFAI, which was created by the Access to Information Law (Ley Federal de Transparencia y Acceso a la Información Pública Gubernamental), is known for increasing transparency throughout Mexico by allowing its citizens to request investigations when a governmental agency’s actions are called into question. Its mission is to publicize government information and to guarantee citizens’ right to that information. It also serves to resolve disputes between agencies, like Pemex, and individuals who want access to government information.
Sources:
Roldan, Nayeli. “Detallar entrega de fondos al sindicato, ordenan a Pemex.” Milenio. July 6, 2011.
“¿Quiénes Somos?” Instituto Federal de Acceso a la Información y Protección de Datos Personales.
