“Sa isang demokratikong pamayanan, wala pong boss kundi ang taumbayan. At bilang tagapaglingkod ng bayan, tungkulin nating tumugon sa mga tanong ng ating mga pinaglilingkuran. Sa panukalang batas po na ito ang bawat Pilipino na humihingi ng impormasyon ay may karapatang mabigyan ng access sa mga tanggapan ng pamahalaan (In a democracy, the people are the boss and the government is duty-bound to address their concerns. The FOI bill ensures people who ask for information from government agencies will have access to it).”
On this note, Sen. Robinhood “Robin” C. Padilla sponsored and pushed for the immediate passage of Senate Bill 2880, which stemmed from the consolidation of various versions of the People’s Freedom of Information (FOI) Act.
Padilla, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media, said the FOI bill will apply to all executive, legislative and judicial offices, constitutional offices, local governments, State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), Government-Owned or Controlled Corporations (GOCCs), and other instrumentalities.
He added the bill complies with Art. III, Sec. 7 of the Constitution, that “(t)he right of the people to information on matters of public concern shall be recognized”; and Sec. 28, Art. II of the Constitution, that: “Subject to reasonable conditions prescribed by law, the State adopts and implements a policy of full public disclosure of all its transactions involving public interest.”
The bill lists exemptions including information that concerns national security and defense; diplomatic safety; information in executive session of Congress; trade secrets; and presidential privilege.
Also exempted are personal information in Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth including address, details of dependents, signatures of government employees, and copies of their IDs.
“Kabilang rin po sa konsiderasyon sa pagbalangkas ng panukalang ito ang layunin ng Republic Act 10173 o Data Privacy Act of 2012 na nangangalaga sa ating right to privacy (The bill takes into consideration RA 10173 or the Data Privacy Act of 2012 that ensures our privacy),” said Padilla.
“Nais ko na ring banggitin na binibigyang-diin ng panukalang batas na ito ang Republic Act No. 9485 o Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007 na naglalayong mapabilis ang serbisyo ng gobyerno (I wish to stress that this bill upholds RA 9485 of the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007 that aims to speed up service in government),” he added.
Padilla said the bill aims to foster transparency and accountability on the collection and spending of public funds. He said this will also help fight corruption.
“Isang napakagandang hakbangin po nito kung tunay at tapat ang ating intensyon sa tamang paggastos ng pera ng bayan. Hindi lamang nito mahahadlangan ang mga modus sa pagbubulsa ng ating kaban, mas mapapaigting rin po nito ang pananagutan ng mga opisyal ng pamahalaan (This will enhance the proper spending of public funds by disrupting the modus of pocketing people’s money, and by enhancing the accountability of government officials),” he said.
Also, he said the bill encourages agencies to use simple language and Filipino in disclosing information.
“Upang magkaroon naman po ng ngipin ang ating batas, naging partikular na rin po tayo sa mga administrative offenses, gayundin sa mga karampatang parusa, sa mga lalabag sa sinasaad ng ating FOI bill (The bill has penalties for administrative offenses and violations),” he said.
“Mayroon din pong probisyon sa sistema ng incentives at rewards upang mabigyan naman natin ng tamang pagkilala ang mga ahensya o lokal na pamahalaan na nakikiisa at sumusunod sa mga panuntunan ng freedom of information (It also has incentives or rewards for agencies and LGUs that follow the FOI),” he added.
