FOI bill passage eyed by end-March

Sen. Grace Poe: FOI passage in March. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—To fast-track the approval of the proposed Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, Sen. Grace Poe on Sunday urged her colleagues to enlist for interpellation with well-prepared questions.

Echoing the view of Senate President Franklin Drilon, Poe expressed confidence that the chamber could pass the controversial measure by the end of March before Congress adjourns for Lent.

She also agreed that the passage of the measure, which grants public access to government records, would be key for the chamber to regaining public trust.

“There’s time to pass it by the end of March,” she said over dzBB.

Sign up early

But Poe, who began defending the measure on the floor in December since she sponsored it as chair of the committee on public information, hoped this would not be tied up by on and off interpellations.

She said her colleagues should sign up early on for interpellation and come up with solid questions so she could also prepare for these.

Interpellations on the measure resume on Dec. 27.

“I’ve requested the other senators to prepare their questions because the questions seemed like ampao (weak). Some would ask questions this week, and then resume the questioning again next week,” Poe said.

She said this early, colleagues should notify her committee of their decision to interpellate her next week. This way, the interpellation could be wrapped up early.

Support given

But otherwise, there was a bipartisan support for the measure, Poe said.

“But we should pass an FOI law that we are proud of and is beneficial to everyone. We can’t pass one just for the sake of passing it, and then in the end, it comes up short,” she said.

Drilon last December predicted that the chamber would enact pieces of legislation, including the FOI, by the first quarter.

The House of Representatives has begun hearing their version of the measure. Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. vowed to pass this by the end of his term.

The bill’s approval has been tied up in the previous 15th Congress because of Malacañang’s reservations to some provisions.

Exceptions

President Aquino had admitted that his main concern lay with the measure’s provision making transcripts of Cabinet meetings available to the public, except those pertaining to national security and diplomacy.

With such a provision, a Cabinet official may think twice before saying what he was supposed to say because the meeting was being recorded, Aquino said.