MEDIA ORGANIZATONS, lawyers, and civil society groups frustrated by the apparent inaction on the pending Freedom of Information (FOI) bill in Congress will hold a march to historic Mendiola on Monday, November 12.
The march is spearheaded by the Right to Know Right Now coalition, a network of some 150 groups that has been pushing for the passage of the FOI for the last 14 years.
The mobilization is meant to remind President Benigno S. Aquino III of his earlier commitment to pass an FOI law. President Aquino had repeatedly committed to support the long-delayed measure when he was still a candidate for the Presidency in 2010.
Since then, however, FOI advocates have complained of the mixed signals coming from Malacanang. In the first two years of his presidency, President Aquino said his communications group was busy hammering out a draft law that would be acceptable to all. It was only in January this year that the President announced that he was finally endorsing the FOI to Congress.
Despite the President’s announced support, the measure remains stalled in the House of Representatives. The President’s allies in Congress claim that they have been getting mixed or no signals from the Palace on what to do with the FOI.
Organizers of Monday’s march say the participating groups will assemble along Espana in front of the University of Sto. Tomas (UST) at 4 p.m. Monday. The participants of the mobilization will then hold a march to Mendiola, where a brief program will be held.