MANILA, Philippines -- The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill that would guarantee people's right to information on matters of public concern.

House Bill 3732, or “An Act implementing the Right of Access to Information on Matters of Public Concern guaranteed under Section 7, Article III of the 1987 Constitution and for other purposes,” would “compel all government offices into complying with the requests for information,” its principal authors, Representatives Bienvenido M. Abante, Jr. of Manila, and Lorenzo Tañada, III of Quezon, said in a joint statement.

The proposed legislation covers all government offices in the executive, legislative and judiciary, including local governments, government-owned and controlled corporations, government financial institutions, state universities and colleges, constitutional commissions, and other offices created by the Constitution,

The bill also covers all entities enjoying government sovereign guarantee and incentives and with existing contracts with the government, and all entities receiving funding from government for their operations.

However, Abante said the measure exempts everything declared “classified information” by the President, information on internal and external defense and law enforcement, information obtained by Congress in executive session, information on medical and personal records which could constitute invasion of privacy, and information pertaining to ongoing treaty negotiations, among others.

Under the measure, requesting parties need only write a request, listing the exact information needed, and the reason for the request. The government office concerned should grant or deny the request within ten calendar days from receipt of the request.

To give teeth to the proposed law, Abante said the measure also provides criminal and administrative penalties for violators.

“This Act shall not be interpreted as a bar to any claim or denial of the right of the people to information under Article III, Sec. 7 of the 1987 Constitution,” the measure says.

Speaker Prospero Nograles said he hopes the Senate would also prioritize the passage of the measure.