Senate passes FOI bill on third reading
The Senate has passed on third and final reading the Freedom of Information bill, which aims to give the public easy access to government records, documents, and research data.
Senators voted unanimously, 22-0, to pass Senate Bill No. 1432, which expands on the previous administration's Executive Order No. 2. It seeks to cover all three branches of the government, constitutional bodies, and local government units.
The proposal also aims to require national officials to disclose their statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth, or SALN, every year. This includes the president, vice president, Cabinet secretaries, Congress members, Supreme Court justices, members of Constitutional commissions and other constitutional bodies, and Armed Forces officers with general or flag rank.
Furthermore, government agencies must also publicize their annual budget, itemized monthly collections and disbursements, summary of income and expenditures, components of the internal revenue allotment utilization, annual procurement plan and list, and more.
Information classified as confidential by law, such as that relating to national security and defense, foreign affairs, and obtained through Congressional executive sessions, is exempted.
Executive Order No. 2, issued by former president Rodrigo Duterte, only covered government offices under the Executive branch.
Sen. Robin Padilla, one of the authors of the measure, has urged the House of Representatives to act on their version of the bill.
“Isang bagay po ito na hinihingi ng ating mga kababayan, ang magkaroon po sila ng access, magkaroon po sila ng pagkakataon na makita ang mga bagay na dapat ay nakikita nila lalo na kapag may kinalaman sa gobyerno," he said in his manifestation.
“Kaya muli po, Ginoong Pangulo, ako po yung humihingi ng tulong sa inyo upang masabihan ang ating mga kasama sa Kamara na susuportahan po ang panukalang ito."
Other authors include senators Joel Villanueva, Kiko Pangilinan, JV Ejercito, Jinggoy Estrada, Erwin Tulfo, and Raffy Tulfo.
The FOI bill is among the 21 priority measures of the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council.