Palace: Aquino does not forget FOI despite Sona snub

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda. FILE PHOTO

President Benigno Aquino III remains committed in pushing for the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill despite not mentioning it in his last and longest State of the Nation Address (Sona), a Palace official said on Wednesday.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Aquino’s budget message on Tuesday urging lawmakers to pass the FOI proved his continued support for the measure.

“People were asking why it wasn’t mentioned in the Sona… it was a day late. But in terms of preparations for the Budget Message, vis-à-vis the Sona, the Budget Message of the President is equally, if not, more powerful than the Sona considering it is a message to the other branch of government—to the lawmaking branch of government. And so, it clearly shows the commitment of the President to institutionalizing transparency and accountability,” Lacierda told reporters in a press briefing.

Lacierda said the FOI bill is now pending to be scheduled for second reading at the House of Representatives, noting that the Malacañang version has already been submitted and debated over the Committee on Information.

“The basic issue is bakit wala? It’s not ‘wala.’ It’s there, hindi lang siguro public, so it’s a question of perspective on where you’re coming from,” he said. “Undersecretary Manolo Quezon has been present in all the committee hearings. Kada meeting ng Committee on Information on the FOI Bill, nandoon si Usec. Quezon. So nandoon ‘yung commitment ng Palasyo, ng Pangulo dito sa FOI. Again, it’s a question of perspective.”

Lacierda added that FOI advocates themselves were “very pleased” with the president’s commitment to the FOI bill, adding that their concern was whether the next administration would still push for the measure to be legislated.

“The FOI advocates have never questioned the commitment of this administration to transparency and accountability. In fact, in our several engagements with FOI advocates, they have always said as much that we do not question the commitment of President Aquino and his administration in pushing—in showing transparency in governance.”

Asked if Aquino’s budget message was a sufficient call to the Congress and if he would not certify the bill as urgent, Lacierda said he was hoping the majority floor leader would schedule it for second reading to fast-track the process.