The Freedom of Information Act—a reconciled version of the Senate and House versions– died in the final day of the 14th Congress, after being approved by the bicameral conference committee and ratified by the Senate in February of this year.
It was the farthest the bill had gone since the first version filed in 1992 (See sidebar, Is this the end? Fourteen years of effort—but still counting). Widely expected to pass, among other reasons because of assurances to that effect by House Speaker Prospero Nograles and Malacanang’s claim that it was supporting it, the bill can be reintroduced in the 15th Congress—but it will have to start from square one.
To help speed it along, the advocates of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act have asked the next president to help realize the passage into law of the long-delayed bill that’s meant to help ensure transparency and accountability in governance.
President-elect Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino III, who was among the senators who voted for the Senate Bill 3308, the Senate version of the bill, responded by promising to make congressional passage of the FOI bill a priority of his legislative agenda once he assumes office this July.
Inquirer.net
Philstar.com
GMAnews.tv
Congress.gov.ph
Minimalgovernment.net
Aer.ph
Ansa-eap.net
Access to Information Network
Right to Know Right Now! Campaign
Only 128 out of the 267 representatives in the Lower House attended the June 4 session. The rest had taken an early vacation or were busy in their new posts—or deliberately stayed away to kill the FOI bill.
The following are the representatives who were either absent or did not respond to the roll call in the last session of the House of Representatives. The list came from House Speaker Prospero Nograles.
Highlighted in bold letters are the congressmen who were among the more than 180 co-sponsors of the Freedom of Information Act. More »
Aruna Roy is a leading Right to Information activist in India. She helped in demanding records and uncovering irregularities in Rajasthan, a village in India. This in turn led to the passage of the Indian Law on Right to Information in 2000.
However, the window for the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill is about to shut as well.
The FOI bill can only be ratified until Friday, June 4, right before the House of Representatives adjourns sine die. But the 14th Congress still needs to canvass the votes for the President and the Vice President.
If Congress fails to ratify FOI bill within that period, the bill goes back to square one. Its advocates will have to lobby again, this time the 15th congress.
The FOI bill, if enacted into law, guarantees access to data held by the state in all its affairs, and provides penalties for officials who fail to disclose or release the requested information. This bill is supported by Article 3 Section 7 of the Bill of Rights which recognizes the people’s right to know on matters of public concern.
Fourteen years after the bill was first submitted to the legislative department, the FOI bill was finally approved by the bicameral conference committee and ratified by the Senate February of this year, just before it adjourned for the elections.
According to reports, however, the members of the House of Representatives failed to ratify it because of the lack of quorum. This is the nearest the FOI bill has reached prior to passing.
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