FOI Youth Initiative: Clamor for FOI
strong in campuses across nation

MORE and bigger youth and student organizations in campuses across the nation added their voices yesterday to the popular clamor for the swift passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill in the 15th Congress.

Amid a small victory of sorts with the bill’s approval on Tuesday by the House of Representatives Committee on Public Information, the manifesto should serve lawmakers who will shortly tackle the bill in plenary fair warning: Better not disappoint the youth.

The FOI Youth Initiative (FYI), a network of youth and student organizations pushing for transparency and accountability in government, expressed solidarity with various people’s organizations “in the clamor for more solid mechanisms in ensuring governance that is open and honest to the people.”

FYI cited the value of an FOI law as “a measure that shall curb corruption and advance participatory governance,” even as it urged the Aquino government to “strongly push for its enactment, in fulfillment of its promise of change.”

The signatories from 59 youth and student organizations across the Philippines exhorted “our fellow young leaders to join us in ensuring the passage of the Freedom of Information Bill into law to strengthen democracy and to transform our government into a genuine instrument of social justice and social progress.”

The manifesto was signed by:

Carlo Brolagda, Chairperson, College of Social Sciences and Philosophy Student Council (CSSPSC), University of the Philippines – Diliman

Viko Fumar, President, BUKLOD CSSP, College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, University of the Philippines – Diliman

Joseph Angelo Gutierrez, Chairperson, Movement of Students for Progressive Leadership in UP (MOVE UP), University of the Philippines – Los Baños

Ace Ligsay, Chairperson, UP Alyansa ng mga Mag-aaral para sa Panlipunang Katwiran at Kaunlaran (UP ALYANSA), University of the Philippines – Diliman

JC Tejano, National Chairperson, Bukluran ng mga Progresibong Iskolar – UP System (BUKLURAN – UP SYSTEM), University of the Philippines System

Tristan Daine Zinampan, Chairperson, Linking Everyone Towards Service CDC (LETS CDC), College of Development Communication, University of the Philippines – Los Baños

Joshua Lorenzo Layog, Primer, Katipunan CHE, College of Human Ecology, University of the Philippines – Los Baños

April Lamentillo, Supremo, Sandigan ng mga Iskolar para sa Nagkakaisang CAS (SINAG CAS), College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines – Los Baños

Deg Daupan, President, Alternatibong Katipunan ng mga Mag-aaral (AKMA), University of the Philippines – Baguio

Joshua Young, Chairperson, Bigkis ng mga Iskolar Para sa Bayan Tungo sa Makabuluhang Pagbabago – UPM (BIGKIS-UPM), University of the Philippines – Manila

Edward Dayog, President, UP Organization of Human Rights Advocates (OHRA), University of the Philippines – Diliman

Mickey Eva, President, Coalition for Students’ Rights and Welfare (STRAW Coalition)

John Mark Salvador, President, Bagong Benilde, De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde

Curt Russel Lopez Delfin, President, Metro Manila Alliance of Communication Students (MACS)

Marlon Cornelio, National Chaiperson, Akbayan Youth

Melba Tampakan, National Chairperson, Alliance of Progressive Labor – Youth (APL Youth)

Marian Bahalla, Chairperson, Laban COC Party, College of Communication, Polytechnic University of the Philippines

Arjay Mercado, President, UP Economics Towards Consciousness (ETC), University of the Philippines – Diliman

Gio Alejo, President, Sanggunian ng mga Paaralang Loyola ng Ateneo de Manila, Ateneo de Manila University

Moses Albiento, Chairperson, Alliance of Student Leaders (ASL), Ateneo de Manila University

Benedict Nisperos, President, Law Student Government (LSG), College of Law, University of the Philippines – Diliman

Walter Tamayo, History Department Representative, AngKAS (CSSP History Department Core Group), University of the Philippines – Diliman

Ernest Calayag, Secretary General, Student Council Alliance of the Philippines (SCAP)

Nico Ibaviosa, President, UP Alliance for Responsive Involvement and Student Empowerment (ARISE), College of Engineering, University of the Philippines – Diliman

Gibby Gorres, Executive Director, Center for Youth Advocacy and Networking (CYAN)

Ara Tan, President, UP Kalipunan ng mga Mag-aaral ng Sosyolohiya (KMS), University of the Philippines – Diliman

Serge Aclan, Chairperson, College of Allied Medical Professions Student Council (CAMPSC), University of the Philippines – Manila

Jason Alacapa, Chairperson, University Student Council (UPM USC), University of the Philippines – Manila

Marjorie Anne Yoro, Suprema, UP Kabataang Pilosopo Tasyo (KaPiTas), University of the Philippines – Diliman

Karla Mae de Leon, Suprema, UP Kalipunan para sa Agham Panlipunan at Pilosopiyang Pilipino (UP KAPPP), University of the Philippines – Diliman

Luisa Lioanag, Bos Tsip-Tsip, UP Bukluran sa Sikolohiyang Pilipino (Buklod-Isip), University of the Philippines – Diliman

Patricza Torio, Tagapangulo, UP Lipunang Pangkasaysayan (LIKAS), University of the Philippines – Diliman

Paulina Miranda, Chairperson, College of Education Student Council (CESC), University of the Philippines – Diliman

Joni Dumasig, President, Union of Progressive Students (UPS), University of the Philippines – Cebu

Fred Omalza, President, People United to Lead, Obey, and Serve (PULOS), University of the Philippines – Mindanao

Adrian Martinez, National President, Kabataang Liberal

Ema Escanilla, Speaker, UP People-Oriented Leadership in the Interest of Community Awareness (UP POLITICA), University of the Philippines – Diliman

Van Battad, President, UP Sirkulo ng mga Kabataang Artista (SIKAT), University of the Philippines – Diliman

Heart Diño, Chairperson, University Student Council (UPD USC), University of the Philippines – Diliman

Robin Charles Ramos, President, Cor Jesu Association of Graduate Students (CJAGS), Cor Jesu College, Digos City, Davao del Sur

Juan Paulo Oreta Rodriguez, Executive Board / Federation Chairman, Barkadahang San Joseño, San Jose del Monte, Bulacan

Leo Christian Lauzon, Chairperson, Youth Against Debt (YAD) Eastern Visayas

Jennifer Julia Lacaba, President, Animal Concerns and Awareness Club (AC2), University of the Philippines – Visayas Tacloban College

Princess Kimberly Ubay-ubay, President, School of Business and Management Student Council (SBMSC), Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan, Cagayan de Oro City

Frezalva Vir Burce, Program Coordinator / Child Protection Officer, Children International – Child Sponsorship for Community Development Inc. (CSCDI), Tabaco City, Albay

Xavier Peredo, Party President, REPUBLICA Socio-Political Party (UA&P REPUBLICA), University of Asia and the Pacific

Roy Dahildahil, Chairperson, Partido sang Mainuswagon nga Bumulutho (PMB), University of the Philippines – Visayas, Miagao, Iloilo

Glosuvel Requina, President, Council of Maritime Leaders (CML), University of Cebu – Maritime Education and Training Center, Cebu City

Cedrick Sagun, President, UST Political Science Forum (UST-TPSF), University of Santo Tomas – Manila

Dawn Po Quimque, President, College of Communication Student Council (COC-SC), Polytechnic University of the Philippines

Jonah Elaine Abubakar, President, School of Business and Management (SBM) – Business Economics Society (BES), Universidad de Zamboanga, Zamboanga City

Michael Villamor, President, Supreme Student Government – Northern Cebu Colleges, Bogo City, Cebu

Danise Talaba, President, Team Communication (TeamComm), De La Salle University – Manila

Xander Losaria, OIC / Secretary General, SENTRO – La Salle, De La Salle University – Dasmariñas

Jem Francelle Sanico, Chairperson, Samahan ng mga Mag-aaral para sa Alternatibong Reporma at Pagbabago (SAMAR Party), University of Eastern Philippines, Northern Samar

Charisse Marie Catama, Student Regent, University of Eastern Philippines, Northern Samar

Marlon Padua, Vice President for Non-Academics, STI Student Council, STI College – Southwoods, Carmona, Cavite

Anne Lorraine Garcia, Most Idyllic Sister, UP Sigma Beta Sorority, University of the Philippines – Diliman

Jana Cabuhat, President, University Student Government (DLSU USG), De La Salle University – Manila