It is the right of Filipinos to avail of their freedom of information from government entities, especially since their taxes pay the salaries of government employees.
Senator Robin Padilla stressed this as he kicked off the hearing on the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill and 30 other proposed measures referred to his Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media.
“Higit sa tatlong dekada na rin po itong nakabinbin sa Kongreso.”
“Karapatan ‘yan ng taumbayan, sila nagpapasweldo sa atin… Higit sa tatlong dekada na rin po itong nakabinbin sa Kongreso,” Padilla said of the FOI bill, which he noted was passed on third reading in the Senate as early as the 16th Congress.
“Ang pagsasabatas po ng FOI ay magpapatibay ng Executive Order sa pamamagitan ng pagpuno sa mga kakulangan, pagbibigay ng pondo sa mga mandato, at pagtukoy ng mga parusang criminal,” the legislator added.
The lawmaker pointed out the FOI bill covers all branches of government – executive, legislative and judiciary; constitutional bodies; local government units, government-owned and controlled corporations, government instrumentalities, government corporate entities, non-chartered GOCCs and state universities and colleges.
The senator added the public has the right to get details of Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth of government officials, public interest transactions, documents or records such as budget expenditures, bidding contracts, procurement plans, debts, and contracts worth P50 million and up.
“The public has the right to get details of the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth of government officials.”
The FOI measure does not cover confidential details pertaining to national security or defense, law enforcement, foreign affairs, presidential communications privilege, and information in executive sessions of Congress.
At the hearing, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Cherbett Karen Maralit said they are trying to balance the request for information and the right to privacy.
Philippine Information Agency director general Jose Torres Jr. added they want to strengthen protection and accountability for whistleblowers; and strengthening the “culture of integrity” among public officials.
Other than the FOI bill, the hearing scheduled for discussion the following bills:
* publication of bills in electronic and online versions as provided in Senate Bill 1645 of Senator Jinggoy Estrada and Senate Bill 881 of Senator Grace Poe;
* bills on language accessibility for public information during disasters;
* use of Digital Identification;
* media regulation;
* verifying identities on online and social media;
