House OKs FOI bill panel report

Ifugao Rep. Teodoro Baguilat Jr. Photo from congress.gov.ph

MANILA, Philippines — The House committee on public information on Tuesday signed its report on the Freedom of Information Bill.

Ifugao Representative Teddy Baguilat, vice chairperson of the panel, presided over the hearing which was attended by 10 members who approved the committee report.

Its chairman, Eastern Samar Representative Ben Evardone was abroad to attend the United Nations Convention and was unable to appear before the panel.

Faced with manifestations on the content of the report, the bill’s main proponent, Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tanada III, told Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez and Camiguin Representative Pedro Romualdo that their comments on the proposed measure would be considered once the bill reaches its period of amendments at the plenary.

The report will be forwarded to the committee on rules so it can be scheduled for plenary deliberations.