FOI advocates launch
‘community assemblies’

Right to Know Right Now! lead convenor Nepomuceno Malaluan briefs participants in the first FOI community assembly

WHOEVER SAID that the long-delayed Freedom of Information (FOI) bill is only for journalists?

Certainly not the 44 women leaders who took part in the first Right to Know Right Now! community assembly for the FOI at the Quezon City Hall last October 18.

Members of the Pambansang Koalisyon ng mga Kababaihan sa Kanayunan, in cooperation with the Focus on the Global South, listened to a briefing by Right to Know Right Now lead convenor Atty. Nepomuceno Malaluan on the status of the measure in Congress, and why the bill is important to all Filipino citizens.

The women leaders in turn shared their experiences in attempting, and often failing to access information on issues affecting them from government agencies.

Last week’s community assembly will only be the first of many engagements between proponents of the FOI and sectoral and community representatives in order to bring the issues surrounding FOI into clearer, sharper, and nearer focus to concerned groups. Some legislators have been arguing that a freedom of information law is no longer necessary as the Philippine media is already too powerful and influential in Philippine society. FOI proponents however argue that the measure is really meant to benefit the ordinary citizens who want greater access to information that affects their lives.

For example, indigenous peoples leader Zen Mansiliohan of PKKK-Agusan del Sur told the community assembly of the difficulty in getting information on so-called development projects that are encroaching on ancestral lands. Farmer leader Rosa Presno in turn spoke of their difficulty in getting information from line agencies such as the Department of Agrarian Reform because ordinary government employees are afraid that their superiors would sanction them.

Many other representatives shared similar experiences along the same vein: from data on the use of Gender and Development budgets at the local level, to agricultural programs in Bulacan.

In the end, everyone agreed on the need for all concerned individuals and organizations to make local initiatives to demand the passage of the FOI, especially since the 15th Congress does not seem interested in passing the measure. Malaluan stressed the need to hit legislators where it hurts the most – at the grassroots level.

PKKK President Mary delos Reyes challenged all members to show their support for the FOI by “practicing it in community levels when dealing with local governments.”

At the end of the program, assembly participants wrote their views and expressions of support on the FOI Graffiti tarpaulin.

The next community assembly for the FOI will be on Saturday, October 27, 12:30 p.m. at the 3rd floor conference room of the Marikina City Market.