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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Senate panel starts hearing on overdue FOI bill ​

Senate panel starts hearing on overdue FOI bill ​

Published Jul 10, 2023 09:06 am
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.
Sen. Robin Padilla, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media, presides over a hearing on several related measures including Senate Bill Nos. (SBN) 1101, 1006, 933 and 100 or the Freedom of Information (FOI). Also present during the hearing is Sen. Raffy Tulfo.  (Senate PRIB Photo)

Senator Robinhood "Robin" C. Padilla emphasized this on Monday, July 10, 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. "Karapatan yan ng taumbayan, sila nagpapasweldo sa atin... Higit sa tatlong dekada na rin po itong nakabinbin sa Kongreso (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 of the FOI bill. He noted that the measure 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 kriminal (Making the FOI a law will strengthen the executive order by fulfilling the government's mandate and institutionalizing penalties for violators)," he added. Padilla pointed out the FOI bill covers all branches of government - executive, legislative and judiciary; constitutional bodies; local government units (LGUs) government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), government instrumentalities, government corporate entities, non-chartered GOCCs and state universities and colleges. He added the public has the right to get details of Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) 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. During 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 (PIA) director general Jose Torres Jr. added they want to strengthen protection and accountability for whistleblowers; and strengthening the "culture of integrity" among public officials.

Related Tags

Freedom of Information SALN FOI Senator Robin Padilla
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