Hopes for FOI approval boosted

Thanks to the united action of the proposed law’s authors and the wise leadership of the House of Representatives’ committee on public information chaired by Rep. Jorge Almonte, the technical working group (TWG) was able to harmonize and consolidate the different versions of the proposd freedom of information (FOI) law.

The broad unity achieved among the FOI champions in the House, Right to Know Right Now! Coalition and the Office of the President, plus the scrutiny that the consensus bill was subjected to expedited the passage of the FOI bill at the committee level.

The executive also played a crucial role in having the consensus bill approved by the TWG. PCDSPO (Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office) OIC Manuel L. Quezon III and presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda were tireless in clarifying the Malacañang version of the FOI bill that was sponsored by Deputy Speaker and Batanes Rep. Dina Abad and Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo.

Malacañang’s bill is consistent or aligned with the TWG bill. Abad and Robredo added the provisions that will institutionalize Open Data, which was initiated and now already being implemented by the executive.

Open Data Philippines (ODP) was cited by the World Bank as among the models for citizens’ participation in governance, transparency and accountability.

If passed, this piece of legislation will be the first of its kind in the world—for it integrates FOI and Open Data.

With clear support from the executive, Almonte and the House leadership (President Aquino and Speaker Feliciano Belmonte vowed the FOI bill will pass), and with the authors of the bill’s different versions united, plus the vigilance of civil society, we are confident the bill will sail through the House committee and get approval.

We hope the other groups that claim to support the passage of this important legislation will refrain from raising issues that have been deliberated and agreed upon by the members of the TWG.

Any delay they will cause might be very costly as the

16th Congress might fail to pass the bill despite the breakthrough already achieved because of unity among the advocates, the executive and reform legislators.

—MEN STA. ANA, coordinator,

Action for Economic Reforms,

1403 West Trade Center,

West Avenue, Quezon City