Reasons why there’s urgent need for FOI law’s enactment

This is a reaction to Ma. Ceres P. Doyo’s Aug. 16 column titled “Push, pass the FOI Act now!” I completely agree that the Freedom of Information bill, which promises the essential right to information, should be passed.

In the 21st century, information is power. However, we, Filipinos, especially the youth, are not aware of this. Our limited knowledge of our government is credited to school discussions, which prune information or news reports that sensationalize

some parts while leaving out other parts. Either way, the whole story is hardly told. But it deserves to be told and to be accessible to the public so that citizens can formulate their own opinions and positions, instead of simply conforming to what they are told is right and wrong.

The Philippine government gives its citizens a voice. But this power is often abused and misused because of lack of information. When problems arise, people are quick to lay the blame on the wrong shoulders. Complaints are thrown left and right without a solution being offered or without identifying the root cause of the problem. Many of the youth do not even know the rights they have. But if information is openly given to the people, it develops an effective, efficient, cooperative and participative citizenry. We deserve complete transparency from our government because it is imperative that we understand it.

I hope that others see things as Doyo does.

—ANNA KATRINA QUINTOS,

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