The Senate on Monday, May 4, approved on third and final reading the bill seeking to provide the public with easy access to official government records, documents and research data. 

Once signed into law, Senate Bill No. 1432 or the proposed People’s Freedom of Information Act will expand the directive under Executive Order No. 2 issued by former President Rodrigo Duterte, which recognizes the people’s right to information.

The present directive only covers agencies under the Executive department. But once a law, all three branches of government—the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary, as well as constitutional bodies and local governments—will be covered by the proposed law.

The measure will also cover government-owned and controlled corporations, government instrumentalities, and state universities and colleges (SUCs).

Under SB No. 1432, the President, Vice President, Cabinet members, members of Congress, Justices of the Supreme Court, members of Constitutional Commissions, as well as officers of the Armed Forces with general or flag rank, would be required to disclose and post their annual statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) on their official websites.

Also under the proposed law, government agencies will be required to publish their transactions, documents or records that involve public interest, such as budget expenditures, bidding contracts, procurement plans, debts and contracts worth P50-million and up, on their respective websites.

But the measure does not cover details on information declared confidential by law, particularly those pertaining to national security or defense, law enforcement, foreign affairs, presidential communications privilege, and information in executive sessions of Congress.

The bill is sponsored by Sen. Robinhood Padilla and authored by Sen. Joel Villanueva, who believes that the measure also aims to empower citizens to be more involved in public governance.