Sen. Robin Padilla on Monday 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.
“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,” stressed Padilla.
He said getting information is the right of the Filipino taxpayers who pay our salaries.
“The FOI bill has been languishing in Congress for more than three decades),” Padilla said.
He said was passed on third reading in the Senate as early as the 16th Congress.
“Making the FOI a law will strengthen the executive order by fulfilling the government’s mandate and institutionalizing penalties
for violators,” also said the senator.
Padilla pointed out that 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.
He further stated the public has the right to get details of the 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 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 strengthen 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;
* bills for the film and TV industries.
