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MANILA, Philippines – Two more senators on Tuesday pressed for the immediate passage of the freedom of information bill that would give every Filipino access to all government information.
Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano and Senator Loren Legarda stood up on the floor and delivered separate co-sponsorship speeches on Senate Bill 3208 known as “An Act Fortifying the People’s Right of Ownership over Information Held by the People’s Government.”
“While the present administration is undertaking efforts to elevate the citizens’ trust and confidence in the government, we must give the people something that they can hold on to,” Legarda said.
“It is on this note that I express my fervent hope that we will soon witness the approval of this measure that I wish to co-sponsor today, Senate Bill 3208, An Act Fortifying the People’s Right of Ownership over Information Held by the People’s Government,” she said.
Legarda explained that under the bill, all government agencies will be mandated to disclose information on public interest transactions, documents or records.
The compulsory disclosure, she said, should be done by posting these documents on government websites for easy access, aside from providing these documents upon a person’s request.
Vital information must also be translated into major Filipino languages and made easier to comprehend, she said.
“However, we acknowledge the fact that there are certain information that must be kept confidential especially that which may compromise the nation’s security, jeopardize negotiations or diplomatic relations with other nations, and intrude privacy or endanger the life and safety of an individual,” Legarda said.
“We have covered these exceptions, and if such may cause the denial of access to information, the agency concerned is required to make the appropriate explanation,” she said.
In closing, the senator called on her colleagues to remain faithful to the maxim that “a public office is a public trust.”
“Honesty, transparency and accountability must always be upheld to gain back the people’s confidence and faith in the bureaucracy,” Legarda said.
“Given the tremendous import of this measure in securing the trust of the Filipino people in their government, I hope that this august chamber shall pass this in the swiftest possible time,” she added.
While he recognized the Aquino administration’s policy of transparency and accountability, Cayetano pointed out the need for institutional reform, further strengthen democracy, the process and the institutions.
“This will lead to more trust from our people and more trust will lead to participation in governance and more that our people participate in governance, the more this will lead to progress and development,” he said in a separate speech.
The bill, Cayetano said, will provide the mechanism to share knowledge and information about governance with the people.
“It allows every Filipino the opportunity not only to become a graft buster but actively help prevent the commission of graft and corruption that leads to high prices, lack of job opportunities and income,” he further said.