Solons reaffirm support
for approval of FOI Act

solons meet to map out strategy for Friday’s session

Legislators met Wednesday to hammer out a strategy to press the ratification of the Freedom of Information Act that has been pending in Congress for the last 14 years. This, amid growing concerns that some members of the House leadership were deliberately blocking the approval of the measure.

The legislators are hoping to push the ratification of the measure on the floor this Friday, the last day of session before Congress adjourns.

House Committee on Public Information Chairman Bienvenido Abante Jr. (Manila) called allies to the meeting in Quezon City after the House leadership railroaded the suspension of Monday’s session over the objections of Abante’s group. Abante had hoped to deliver a privilege speech in support of the FOI, followed by a motion to have the measure ratified by the chamber.

Instead, the session was suspended just ten seconds after it opened, over the loud objections of several congressmen. Abante suspects that some House leaders were not interested in seeing the bill ratified and enacted into law because it would open a can of worms in the chamber.

The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act establishes clear and firm guidelines on giving the public access to public documents, including deals, loans, contracts, and even the statements of assets and liabilities of public officials. The measure spells out what kinds of documents may be made available to the public, and what documents must be kept confidential. The latter includes documents that have to do with foreign negotiations, national security issues, and tactical information that may affect ongoing police or military operations.

Moreover, the measure would impose sanctions on officials who refuse to make documents accessible to the media and the public.

The measure had already hurdled both chambers of Congress, and the bicameral conference committee. The Senate had ratified the bicameral conference committee report, but the House had gone on recess in February instead of ratifying the conference committee report. Efforts to have the report ratified had been stymied, with the House leadership shutting off the microphones on the floor and railroading the suspension of session last Monday.

Abante says they are concerned that House leaders would block the ratification of the measure on Friday, leaving it dead in the water as the 14th Congress adjourns. If this happens, the bill will have to be refiled and deliberated on all over again by the 15th Congress.

During today’s meeting, legislators affirmed their support for the FOI Act, and emphasized the need to pass the measure as part of the legacy of the 14th Congress.