Category: Access to Information

Makati Business Club: Pass FOI, ‘daang matuwid’ will take root

mcmangahas Leave a comment

LET’S HEAR IT from businessmen.

The executive director of the Makati Business Club (MBC), Peter Angelo V. Perfecto, on Friday reiterated his organization’s full support for the immediate passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill in the 15th Congress.

Perfecto, speaking as an MBC executive, said “the MBC reiterates its support for the passage of the FOI bill, which institutionalizes the Constitutional guarantee on every citizen’s right to information and the state policy of full public disclosure of all government transactions involving public interest.”

“We believe that this is an intrinsic element of the type of good governance and daang matuwid, upon which the Aquino administration has anchored its (social) contract with the Filipino people.”

“While we recognize and laud the disclosure mechanisms already being implemented by certain agencies, such as the Department of Budget and Management in the disbursement of public funds, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government with the recent launch of its Full Disclosure Policy Portal,” Perfecto said the MBC sees the importance of the passage of the FOI bill to assure that these reforms are implemented across all public agencies.

“We need the FOI bill,” Perfecto said, “to drive transparency and accountability in governance across all government agencies.”

Additionally, the Philippines needs an FOI bill, he said, “to make sure these mechanisms take toot in the bureaucracy well beyond the current administration.”

Perfecto said his organization welcomes the approval by the Senate of the FOI bill (titled People’s Ownership of Government Information or POGI bill) on third and final reading in December 2012, as well as the approval by the House Committee on Public Information of the lower chamber’s version of the bill. The progress of the bill in the House, albeit on committee level, effectively opens the measure “for plenary debates… bringing the bill closer to its passage.”

Perfecto attended the press conference last Friday of the Right to Know, Right Now! Coalition, to represent the MBC.

A private non-stock, non-profit business association organized as a Forum for Constructive Ideas, the MBC was founded in 1981 “to foster and promote the role of the business sector in national development efforts, both in the planning and the implementation of policies.”

The MBC said it is “committed to addressing national economic and social issues that affect the development of the Philippines.

Composed of senior business executives “representing the largest and most dynamic corporations in the Philippines,” the MBC has become “the leading private forum for meetings that bring together business, government, and community leaders in the country.”

Its official website states that the MBC carries out its objectives “through four main lines of activity: policy advocacy, information services and publishing, investment promotion, and corporate citizenship.”

The MBC Board of Trustees for 2012-2013 is led by Ramon R. del Rosario Jr., president and CEO of Philippine Investment Management, Inc., as chairman; Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala II, ?chairman and CEO of Ayala Corporation, and Roberto F. de Ocampo, chairman of the Board of Advisors of the RFO Center for Public Finance and Regional Economic Cooperation, as co-vice chairmen; and Aurelio R. Montinola III?, president and CEO of the Bank of the Philippine Islands, as treasurer.

Netizens unite: Pass FOI now, curb misuse of people’s money

mcmangahas Leave a comment

LET’S HEAR it from Netizens.

In a joint statement on Friday, Netizens writing for various blog networks pledged their support and gigabytes to the growing multi-sectoral clamor for the immediate passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill, before the 15th Congress packs up and goes.

Ten senior bloggers who signed the statement that was read at the press conference of the Right to Know, Right Now! Coalition called on the members of the House of Representatives to “pass the FOI bill NOW… without delay and distraction.”

The bloggers raised three arguments for the FOI’s immediate passage, notably:

* The bill “breathes life into the constitutional mandate of transparency and accountability… and compels the Government to fulfill a promise that has persistently been broken.”

* The bill “enables the people to be vigilant over the use of public funds,” and upholds “(our) right to guard our taxes — The People’s Money — against theft and wasteful spending.”

* The bill “assures faster, more reliable delivery of basic and essential information for its citizens — guaranteeing access to public documents that affect our lives — whether these affect private lives or properties, or whether these affect public policy.”

The FOI bill must pass, they said, without need for a right-of-reply (RoR) provision “that imposes a chilling effect on responsible citizens otherwise eager to speak truth or facts without the burden of harassment by politicians who wield awesome influence or resources.”

Citing libel laws, self-regulation policies in place in media agencies, and “the Terms of Service of individual social media providers,” the Netizens nixed the inclusion of an RoR clause in the FOI bill.

“The push now for Right of Reply is designed, in great part, to minimize the impact of FOI on the forthcoming elections, even though it is during electoral campaigns when discussion of public matters is most urgent and vital,” the Netizens said.

Here is the full text of the Netizens’ statement:

Statement On the Immediate Passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act
18 January 2013

WE, Netizens of the Philippines, call on the House of Representatives to pass the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill NOW.

First, the FOI breathes life into the constitutional mandate of transparency and accountability of our Government. It compels the Government to fulfill a promise that has persistently been broken.

Second, the FOI Bill enables the people to be vigilant over the use of public funds with further guarantees of transparency and oversight. We have the right to guard our taxes — The People’s Money — against theft and wasteful spending.

Third, the FOI Bill assures faster, more reliable delivery of basic and essential information for its citizens — guaranteeing access to public documents that affect our lives — whether these affect private lives or properties, or whether these affect public policy.

The FOI Bill needs to pass without delay or distraction.

We, the Netizens, further call on the Congress to pass the FOI Bill without a right-of-reply (RoR) rider that is so inconsistent with the Constitution:

a) It imposes a chilling effect on responsible citizens otherwise eager to speak truth or facts without the burden of harassment by politicians who wield awesome influence or resources.

b) There already exist constitutional measures designed to counteract defamatory expression concerning public officials or matters, such as the laws and jurisprudence on libel, the Terms of Service of individual social media providers, or the policies of self-regulatory bodies of press organizations.

c) The push now for Right of Reply is designed, in great part, to minimize the impact of FOI on the forthcoming elections, even though it is during electoral campaigns when discussion of public matters is most urgent and vital.

As such we Netizens, call on the Members of Congress who have pledged to support and pass the FOI Bill to do so NOW.

We Netizens ask the public to join us in urging that the FOI Bill be passed now.

Signed by:

Noemi Lardizabal -Dado (@momblogger), Blog Watch
Cocoy Dayao, (@cocoy), Democracy.Net.PH
Francis Acero, (@francisacero), Democracy.Net.PH
Oliver Reyes (@ageofbrillig), Democracy.Net.Ph
Pierre Tito Galla, (@jesterinexile), Democracy.Net.PH
Cecille Soria,(@ceso), Democracy.Net.PH
Jane Uymatiao (@philippinebeat), Blog Watch
Juned Sonido (@juned),,Democracy.Net.PH , Baratillo Pamphlet
Angelo Louise Lopez (@GeloLopez) , Blog Watch
Oliver Robillo, @blogie, BlogPress.ph

The youth’s clamor: Pass FOI first, court votes later

mcmangahas Leave a comment

LET’S HEAR it from the youth and students.

In a joint statement, leaders of 68 student councils and youth organizations across the nation urged the members of the House of Representatives to pass the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill before the 15th Congress takes another long recess on Feb. 8, 2013.

“FOI is our issue, too,” said Carlo Brolagda, co-convenor of the FOI Youth Initiative (FYI) and chairperson of the student council of University of the Philippines College of Social Sciences and Philosophy.

“We young people, who will eventually inherit this government, want institutionalized mechanisms for transparency and accountability of public officials and offices,” he said.

“Let our generation be defined not just by the laws passed during our youth, but more so by the actions that we have undertaken to ensure that they are enacted.”

The FOI Youth Initiative (FYI), called on Congress to “cement its reputation as the House of the People that has successfully enacted relevant progressive legislation for the rights and welfare of Filipinos.”

A member of the Right to Know, Right Now! Coalition, FYI said lawmakers should keep the momentum for reform laws going. “Failing to pass the FOI Bill would make the House fall short of fully gaining the trust of the people in its winning streak of passing long-awaited laws,” FYI said.

Citing that the Senate has done its part by finally approving the FOI bill on third and final reading last December, Brolagda said, “we believe that it isn’t too much to ask for the House to do the same before the 15th Congress ends and before many of its members go on campaign mode for the elections.”

“Aside from possible problems in House members’ attendance, we also have to deal with legislators who are adamant in having an anti-press freedom Right of Reply provision in the bill,” Brolagda said. “Some are misled into thinking that the FOI Law will only cater to the media. They are completely mistaken because this measure will benefit all citizens.”

Meanwhile, FYI co-convenor Chris Alquizalas, councilor of the UP College of Social Science and Philosophy student council, called on his fellow young leaders to help in lobbying for the bill by engaging their Representatives in Congress.

“We have to make them realize that FOI is our issue, too. We young people, who will eventually inherit this government, want institutionalized mechanisms for transparency and accountability of public officials and offices,” said Alquizalas.

“Let our generation be defined not just by the laws passed during our youth, but more so by the actions that we have undertaken to ensure that they are enacted.”

The FYI said it supports the call of the Right to Know, Right Now! Coalition for President Aquino and the House leadership to certify the FOI Bill as urgent. The group promised to be watchful of the proceedings in the House as it winds down towards adjournment before the 2013 elections.

The FOI Youth Initiative is composed of the following student councils and youth organizations:

• College of Social Sciences and Philosophy Student Council (CSSPSC), University of the Philippines – Diliman
• BUKLOD CSSP, College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, University of the Philippines – Diliman
• Movement of Students for Progressive Leadership in UP (MOVE UP), University of the Philippines – Los Baños
• UP Alyansa ng mga Mag-aaral para sa Panlipunang Katwiran at Kaunlaran (UP ALYANSA), University of the Philippines – Diliman
• Bukluran ng mga Progresibong Iskolar – UP System (BUKLURAN – UP SYSTEM), University of the Philippines System
• Linking Everyone Towards Service CDC (LETS CDC), College of Development Communication, University of the Philippines – Los Baños
• Katipunan CHE, College of Human Ecology, University of the Philippines – Los Baños
• Sandigan ng mga Iskolar para sa Nagkakaisang CAS (SINAG CAS), College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines – Los Baños
• Alternatibong Katipunan ng mga Mag-aaral (AKMA), University of the Philippines – Baguio
• Bigkis ng mga Iskolar Para sa Bayan Tungo sa Makabuluhang Pagbabago – UPM (BIGKIS-UPM), University of the Philippines – Manila
• UP Organization of Human Rights Advocates (OHRA), University of the Philippines – Diliman
• Coalition for Students’ Rights and Welfare (STRAW Coalition)
• Bagong Benilde, De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde
• Metro Manila Alliance of Communication Students (MACS)
• Akbayan Youth
• Alliance of Progressive Labor – Youth (APL Youth)
• Laban COC Party, College of Communication, Polytechnic University of the Philippines
• UP Economics Towards Consciousness (ETC), University of the Philippines – Diliman
• Sanggunian ng mga Paaralang Loyola ng Ateneo de Manila, Ateneo de Manila University
• Alliance of Student Leaders (ASL), Ateneo de Manila University
• Law Student Government (LSG), College of Law, University of the Philippines – Diliman
• AngKAS (CSSP History Department Core Group), University of the Philippines – Diliman
• Student Council Alliance of the Philippines (SCAP)
• UP Alliance for Responsive Involvement and Student Empowerment (ARISE), College of Engineering, University of the Philippines – Diliman
• Center for Youth Advocacy and Networking (CYAN)
• UP Kalipunan ng mga Mag-aaral ng Sosyolohiya (KMS), University of the Philippines – Diliman
• College of Allied Medical Professions Student Council (CAMPSC), University of the Philippines – Manila
• University Student Council (UPM USC), University of the Philippines – Manila
• UP Kabataang Pilosopo Tasyo (KaPiTas), University of the Philippines – Diliman
• UP Kalipunan para sa Agham Panlipunan at Pilosopiyang Pilipino (UP KAPPP), University of the Philippines – Diliman
• UP Bukluran sa Sikolohiyang Pilipino (Buklod-Isip), University of the Philippines – Diliman
• UP Lipunang Pangkasaysayan (LIKAS), University of the Philippines – Diliman
• College of Education Student Council (CESC), University of the Philippines – Diliman
• Union of Progressive Students (UPS), University of the Philippines – Cebu
• People United to Lead, Obey, and Serve (PULOS), University of the Philippines – Mindanao
• Kabataang Liberal
• UP People-Oriented Leadership in the Interest of Community Awareness (UP POLITICA), University of the Philippines – Diliman
• UP Sirkulo ng mga Kabataang Artista (SIKAT), University of the Philippines – Diliman
• University Student Council (UPD USC), University of the Philippines – Diliman
• Cor Jesu Association of Graduate Students (CJAGS), Cor Jesu College, Digos City, Davao del Sur
• Barkadahang San Joseño, San Jose del Monte, Bulacan
• Youth Against Debt (YAD) Eastern Visayas
• Animal Concerns and Awareness Club (AC2), University of the Philippines – Visayas Tacloban College
• School of Business and Management Student Council (SBMSC), Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan, Cagayan de Oro City
• Children International – Child Sponsorship for Community Development Inc. (CSCDI), Tabaco City, Albay
• REPUBLICA Socio-Political Party (UA&P REPUBLICA), University of Asia and the Pacific
• Partido sang Mainuswagon nga Bumulutho (PMB), University of the Philippines – Visayas, Miagao, Iloilo
• Council of Maritime Leaders (CML), University of Cebu – Maritime Education and Training Center, Cebu City
• UST Political Science Forum (UST-TPSF), University of Santo Tomas – Manila
• College of Communication Student Council (COC-SC), Polytechnic University of the Philippines
• School of Business and Management (SBM) – Business Economics Society (BES), Universidad de Zamboanga, Zamboanga City
• Supreme Student Government – Northern Cebu Colleges, Bogo City, Cebu
• Team Communication (TeamComm), De La Salle University – Manila
• SENTRO – La Salle, De La Salle University – Dasmariñas
• Samahan ng mga Mag-aaral para sa Alternatibong Reporma at Pagbabago (SAMAR Party), University of Eastern Philippines, Northern Samar
• UEP Office of the Student Regent, University of Eastern Philippines, Northern Samar
• STI Student Council, STI College – Southwoods, Carmona, Cavite
• UP Sigma Beta Sorority, University of the Philippines – Diliman
• University Student Government (DLSU USG), De La Salle University – Manila
• Youth Aids Filipinas Alliance (YAFA), University of the Philippines – Visayas Tacloban College
• Vox La Salle Debate Society, De La Salle University – Dasmariñas
• TLF – Sexuality, Health, and Rights Educators (TLF-SHARE) Collective, Inc.
• National Alliance of Liberal Student Formations (NALSF)
• KILOS! – PUP, Polytechnic University of the Philippines – Manila
• Filipino Liberal Youth – PUP, Polytechnic University of the Philippines – Manila
• Alyansang Tapat sa Lasallista (TAPAT), De La Salle University – Manila
• School of Economics Student Council (SESC), University of the Philippines – Diliman
* Angat Kabataan, Taytay, Rizal

The teachers’ take: Failure to pass FOI unacceptable

mcmangahas Leave a comment

LET’S HEAR IT from our profs:

Freedom of Information is vital to good scholarship and “evidence-based research.”

Freedom of Information is critical to “responsible participation in public life.”

Freedom of Information assures transparency, “our greatest defense against public officials who have diverged from the will of the electorate.”

Freedom of Information enables public servants “who have done right and performed well.”

in a joint statement, professors, deans, and a university president from the nation’s largest and most creditable universities, on Friday added their voices to the popular clamor for the immediate passage of the FOI bill by the 15th Congress.

The professors averred “the arbitrary roadblocks set by public offices (as) barriers to a sincere examination of government operations.”

They raised concern that, “failure to pass the bill in the fifteenth congress sets back the administration’s reform agenda at a crucial time when transparency in governance needs to be institutionalized.”

“It is unacceptable that a progressive piece of legislation is held hostage by politicians with vested interest seeking to incapacitate citizens who aim to hold them accountable,” they wrote.

Important lessons on citizenship and governance, indeed. But will the members of the House of Representatives listen? Will they pass or fail our professors, and do right on the FOI bill?

Here is the professors’ full statement:

Joint statement of academics for FOI
18 January 2013

WE, the undersigned faculty members of various universities, in our individual capacity as scholars and citizens, urge our Representatives in Congress to pass the Freedom of Information bill.

We consider the bill an important piece of legislation to uphold our fundamental right to publicly-held information. As scholars, we view access to data as an integral component in evidence-based research.

Currently, the arbitrary roadblocks set by public offices are barriers to a sincere examination of government operations.

As citizens, access to information is critical to responsible participation in national life.

Transparency is our greatest defense against public officials who have diverged from the will of the electorate. It is also valued highly by public servants who have done right and performed well.

We express concern that failure to pass the bill in the fifteenth congress sets back the administration’s reform agenda at a crucial time when transparency in governance needs to be institutionalized.

It is unacceptable that a progressive piece of legislation is held hostage by politicians with vested interest seeking to incapacitate citizens who aim to hold them accountable.

There is enough time to pass the bill. We press the fifteenth congress to take action and pass the FOI bill now.

Signed:

1. Prof. Carmela Abao, Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University
2. Prof. Flordeliz L. Abanto, Mass Communication Department, St. Scholastica’s College-Manila
3. Prof. Joy Aceron, Ateneo School of Government, Ateneo de Manila University
4. Prof. Arjan P. Aguirre, Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University
5. Dr. Michael Alba, President, Far Eastern University
6. Dr. Fernando Aldaba, Economics Department, Ateneo de Manila University
7. Dr. Aileen S.P. Baviera, Asian Center, UP Diliman
8. Dr. Edsel L. Beja Jr., Economics Department, Ateneo de Manila University
9. Dr. Ma. Luisa De Leon-Bolinao, History Department, UP Diliman
10. Prof. Ma. Teresa Briones, Ateneo School of Government, UP Diliman
11. Dr. Tina S. Clemente, Asian Center, UP Diliman
12. Dr. Lisandro Claudio, Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University
13. Dr. Sylvia Estrada Claudio, Center for Women’s Studies, UP Diliman
14. Dr. Antonio P. Contreras, Department of Political Science, De La Salle University
15. Dr. Nicole Curato, Department of Sociology, UP Diliman
16. Dr. Soledad M. Dalisay, Department of Anthropology, UP Diliman
17. Dr. Buenaventura Dargantes, Institute for Strategic Research and Development Studies, Visayas State University
18. Dr. Clarissa David, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman
19. Dr. Maria Helen F. Dayo, Gender Centre, UP Los Baños
20. Dr. J. Prospero E. de Vera, National College of Public Administration and Governance, UP Diliman
21. Prof. Yolanda G. Ealdama, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman
22. Prof. Adonis Elumbre, College of Social Sciences, UP Baguio
23. Prof. Josefa Francisco, Women and Gender Institute, Miriam College
24. Dr. Eduardo T. Gonzalez, Asian Center, UP Diliman
25. Dr. Marita Castro Guevara, Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, Ateneo de Manila University
26. Dr. Filomin Candaliza-Gutierrez, Department of Sociology, UP Diliman
27. Prof. Ronald D. Holmes, Department of Political Science, De La Salle University
28. Dr. Antonio La Vina, Ateneo School of Government, Ateneo de Manila University
29. Dr. Joseph Anthony Lim, Economics Department, Ateneo de Manila University
30. Dr. Amado M. Mendoza, Jr., Department of Political Science, UP Diliman
31. Dr. Maria Fe Villamejor Mendoza, National College of Public Administration and Governance, UP Diliman
32. Dr. Lilibeth Miralles, Associate Professor and Research Unit Head, Visayas State University
33. Prof. Praksis Miranda, Department of Sociology, UP Diliman
34. Prof. Louie C. Montemar, Department of Political Science, De La Salle University
35. Prof. Emeritus Francisco Nemenzo, Jr., Department of Political Science, UP Diliman
36. Dr. Rene E. Ofreneo, School of Labor and Industrial Relations, UP Diliman
37. Dr. Rosalinda Pineda Ofreneo, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman
38. Dr. Mary Racelis, Institute of Philippine Culture, Ateneo de Manila University
39. Prof. Sabrina Nikki Ramos, Department of Sociology, UP Diliman
40. Prof. Rene Raymond R. Raneses, Jr., Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University
41. Prof. Ranjit Rye, Department of Political Science, UP Diliman
42. Dr. Neil Martial R. Santillan, Department of History, UP Diliman
43. Dr. Alma Maria O. Salvador, Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University
44. Prof. Teresita Ang See, College of Social Sciences, Ateneo de Manila University
45. Dr. Carolyn I. Sobritchea, Asian Center, UP Diliman
46. Prof. Randy Jay C. Solis, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman
47. Dr. Eduardo Climaco Tadem, Asian Center, UP Diliman
48. Dr. Teresa Tadem, Department of Political Science, UP Diliman
49. Prof. Efenita M. Taqueban, Department of Anthropology, UP Diliman
50. Prof. Carlos P. Tatel, Jr., Department of Anthropology, UP Diliman
51. Prof. Philip Arnold P. Tuano, Economics Department, Ateneo de Manila University
52. Dr. Victor S Venida, Economics Department, Ateneo de Manila University
53. Prof. Nathalie A. Verceles, Department of Women and Development Studies, UP Diliman
======================
REFERENCE:
Dr. Nicole Curato | 09285009353 | nccurato@upd.edu.ph

Will FOI fly or die in 15th Congress?

mcmangahas Leave a comment

IN A BIG, final push for the passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill in the 15th Congress, the Right to Know, Right Now! Coalition has called a press briefing today, Jan. 18, 2013 in Quezon City.

The authors of the bill in the House of Representatives and leaders of the 160 civil society organizations and individuals that comprise the Coalition will attend.

The Coalition has urged House lawmakers to rush action on the FOI bill in the nine session days left from Jan. 23 to Feb. 8,after which they will adjourn again for the election campaign.

Support for the Coalition’s campaign continues to grow, meanwhile. The Integrated Bar of the Philippines, faculty members of the Ateneo de Manila University and the University of the Philippines, and netizens and bloggers have also signed on to the campaign for the FOI bill to pass into law in the 15th Congress.