FOI bill in danger of gathering dust

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines –Malacañang on Wednesday said the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill still needs further discussion, more than a decade since its first version was filed in Congress.

“Our position is this is a bill that needs to be discussed,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing.

He said there are still a number of “concerns coming from the legislators and those concerns need to be addressed.”

Lacierda gave the statement amid advocates calling on President Benigno Aquino III to certify the bill as urgent.

While Senate has already approved their FOI bill on third and final reading, the different versions filed at the House of Representatives are still in the committee level, undergoing consolidation by the technical working group.

The presidential spokesperson shrugged off complaints that the House of Representatives was taking too long to pass the bill.

“This needs to be discussed. And a healthy discussion will lead to a better product. So we believe that FOI is moving. I understand from…Undersecretary Manolo Quezon has been invited as a resource person. And based on his discussions, it has been moving faster than the previous Congress,” he said.

Lacierda also pointed out that despite the absence of an FOI law, “Insofar as the Executive branch is concerned, we have exhibited the transparency that has always been requested by the civil society organization.”

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