Senator Grace Poe said Friday, March 24, that she would push for the passage of a Freedom of Information (FOI) law - one that gives more access to information than restrictions.
‘’While an executive order on Freedom of Information (FOI) is laudable, our overarching goal is to institutionalize it through a law,’’ she said.
Poe was reacting to a memorandum issued by Malacanang adding more exceptions to what could be accessed under former President Duterte’s executive order on FOI .
The expanded list of information excluded from public disclosure is contained in Memorandum Circular No. 15 issued last March 15 by Executive iSecretary Lucas Bersamin, updating what was included in Duterte’s EO No. 2.
Poe emphasized that transparency is crucial to accountability.
‘’Without transparency, our people cannot access the information needed to participate in effective governance,’’ she said.
‘’Every Filipino has a right to information of public concern. This is a sacred element in empowerment and democracy,’’ she added..
No Freedom on Information bill was passed during the previous administration despite Duterte’s campaign promise.
Already nine months into his term, President Ferdinand ‘’Bongbong’’ R. Marcos Jr. has not publicly called for an FOI law and it was not in list of priority bills sent to Congress