As House stalls FOI bill, Davao acts on own version

DAVAO CITY—As Congress continues to drag its feet on the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill and Malacañang appears to lack support for it, this city’s council decided to move ahead with its own version of a law that would compel government offices to open their records to the public.

Passed on first reading on Jan. 21 and scheduled for public hearings, the city council resolution enacting an FOI ordinance sought to demonstrate how transparency and accountability can boost public confidence and make the city more attractive to investors.

Councilor Mabel Sunga-Acosta, chair of the council’s committee on education, said it is time for the city to show that some local government units adhere to good governance amid all the reports about government deals being hidden from public scrutiny.

“I think this is a good time to pass such an ordinance, especially now that we keep hearing a lot of news about government transactions that are not good,” said Acosta, who authored the resolution.

“At least, in Davao City, we can show that not all government agencies are like that,” she added.

The real intent of the proposed ordinance, she said, is good governance, “not political.”

“It’s not to destroy reputations but to open public records for the people to see,” Acosta said.

She also told the Inquirer that one of the questions raised about her resolution was whether the local government could compel national government agencies to open up their records if her proposal becomes law ahead of the FOI bill languishing in Congress.

“As an ordinance, we can cover only areas within our jurisdiction,” Acosta said. “So, whether we can also compel national government agencies to open up (records) if the ordinance is approved ahead of the bill is also being considered,” she added.

Acosta said a study by the World Trade Organization in 1999 links government transparency and accountability with high ratings from international financing institutions and funding agencies which often lead to increased foreign investments.

Acosta said her committee would conduct a series of committee hearings on the proposed ordinance with media groups and the public. Germelina Lacorte, Inquirer Mindanao