Among the nations of the world that boast a federal agency regulating access to public information, Mexico has the second highest budget.Only England spends more money to make sure its citizens can keep track of public information, according to a new study conducted by the National Autonomous University (UNAM).
Mexico´s federal public information agency (IFAI) has an annual budget of over 215 million pesos, while England spends the equivalent of 226 million pesos.
María Marván Laborde, the IFAI president, justified the large budget her agency enjoys by pointing out that IFAI doesn´t just handle requests and complaints about access to public information. The IFAI also is entrusted with cultivating a commitment to transparency in public institutions as well as ensure adherence to the law itself.
The UNAM report said a large budget doesn´t imply effectiveness, recalling that the most recent Transparency International study ranked Mexico 64th. The report also criticized the high salaries for IFAI officials as compared to other countries.
