Amid an ongoing congressional investigation on deep-rooted corruption in the  military, we appeal to President Aquino to reconsider inclusion of the Freedom of  Information (FOI) Bill in his list of legislative priorities. This should send the strongest  signal to the country and the world that he remains truly committed to his anti-corruption  agenda.

We cannot overemphasize the role that an FOI law will play in transforming  government culture. As Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile observed when he explained  the Senate’s commitment to the measure in the last Congress: “I think that if we do this,  our desire for a more straightforward and honest government will be accomplished,  because then people will have to be very, very careful and circumspect in performing  their work in government, in transacting their official business, and in spending the  money of the people.”

Necessary Supplement to Constitutional Right 
While the Constitution guarantees the people’s right to information in the Bill of  Rights, experience shows that its effective implementation requires the  institutionalization of the necessary substantive and procedural details that only  legislation can provide. President Aquino himself knows this. Asked by media after his  proclamation whether his administration will prioritize the FOI bill, he said: “Yes, iba pa  rin yung ano eh, may force of law, so that would be I think the more complete route.”  view at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HA5jZVlTKaM)

The institutionalization of the necessary substantive and procedural details, “with  the force of law” is what the passage of the long overdue Freedom of Information Act  will achieve. It provides a standard and definite procedure for dealing with requests for  information. It clearly defines a list of exceptions, carefully balancing the public interest  in broad disclosure with the public interest in keeping certain information secret. It  secures for citizens concurrent remedies in cases of denial of access to information. It  provides implementing mechanics for the public disclosure of a list of important  government transactions, without need of request from anyone. It provides criminal and  administrative sanctions for violation of the right to information. Finally, it introduces  numerous mechanisms for the active promotion of openness in government. All these  directly address the substantive and operational gaps that have made the Constitutional  right to information extremely difficult to enforce in practice.

FOI Also Necessary for Social and Economic Agenda
The passage of the FOI law will serve not only President Aquino’s anti-corruption  agenda, it will also serve well any agenda for economic growth and social justice.  Institutionalized and predictable transparency builds confidence in the economy. We are  certain that its passage will facilitate a quick improvement in most international indices  on anti-corruption, good governance and rule of law, and contribute substantially in the  improvement of international perception of the country. It is no surprise that the business  sector supports the passage of this law.

But the other equally important benefit of having an FOI law is its availability to  every ordinary citizen as they transact with government or access its programs and  services. Be it on housing, social welfare programs such as CCT, agrarian reform, or  social and health security programs at both national and local levels, an ordinary citizen  needs both background information as well as documentation to effectively avail of such  services. The passage of the FOI law will dramatically change the way government will  handle these information needs.

Prioritizing FOI Not Inconsistent with Addressing the President’s Concerns
We are no stranger to apprehensions by top government officials over the passage  of the FOI bill. One of such apprehensions is always over the treatment by the bill of  sensitive information.

We recognize that the people’s right to information, like all the other  constitutional guarantees, is not absolute. Thus, limitations may be provided by law, and  the pending bills that adopt the bicameral conference committee version of the 14th  Congress take the challenge of setting forth these exceptions. In crafting the exceptions,  the bills have been guided by the classes of information that the Supreme Court has  identified as areas for reasonable limitation of the right. These include national security,  foreign affairs, law enforcement, trade secrets, personal privacy, and the administration of justice. What the bill does is to circumscribe the said areas for reasonable exceptions  with narrow specificity as would limit the space for overbroad and arbitrary  interpretation. This was done by specifying the harm or damage to public interest that  will result if the relevant information is made publicly available.

We also emphasize that the bills have already evolved over several Congresses,  and passed through numerous debates, discussions and consensus building among the  various stakeholders from both the government and non-government sides, and subjected  to the close scrutiny of legislators in the various stages of the legislative process.  Still, we have always been open to further refinements of the bill to address  whatever concerns remain. In fact, we participated in the last technical working group (TWG) meeting of the House Committee on Public Information, and further amendments  to the bill have been agreed to. In this TWG, more than 30 executive agencies have been  invited, 18 of which have submitted position papers. Some of these position papers raise  remaining concerns, but all agencies support and see the necessity of passing the FOI  law.

In truth, we want the FOI law to be an effective law, which can only come from a  very careful balancing of the various legitimate interests involve. But the consideration  of remaining concerns by President Aquino on the FOI is not incompatible with him  identifying it as a priority of his administration. It’s prioritization in fact will provide  focus and determination to address whatever concerns remain. 

Appeal to the President for Clear Signal and Concrete Action
We have made repeated attempts to appeal to President Aquino to give a decisive  signal of support for the measure; this has been a clear aspiration of the support for his  administration. We wrote him in July last year, through Executive Secretary Ochoa,  Presidential Chief of Staff Julia Abad, and Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda,  appealing that the FOI law be indentified as one of his priorities. But not only  was our letter not responded to, the FOI bill was also not mentioned  at all in the SONA. We wrote him again more recently through Secretaries  Carandang, Coloma and Lacierda, appealing for the inclusion of the FOI bill in  his priorities, even as we expressed openness to refinements in the bill to respond to any  concerns he may have, including those already expressed by Secretary Coloma in Congress. We must confess that the President’s refusal to include the FOI bill in his list  of priority measures is a big letdown.

We have heard various voices from the executive on the proposed measure. But in  the end, the determination of the Executive’s ultimate priorities and stand is the  President’s call; it is a question of leadership.

Given that the LEDAC is scheduled at the end of the month yet, we again make  our earnest and most respectful appeal to President Aquino to include the FOI bill in his  list of priorities. We also appeal to President Aquino to assign specific members of his  administration to more formally, and within a specific timeframe, study the latest version  of the bill and assess it against his concerns. We understand that there is a comprehensive  memorandum prepared by Deputy Speaker Tañada discussing the concerns raised so far  and concrete refinements will be introduced in the TWG proposed consolidation of the  FOI bill. On our part, we again offer our readiness to constructively discuss whatever  concerns remain, towards the objective of coming up with a bill that strikes a careful and  reasonable balance between the people’s right to access information and other legitimate,  competing interests.

We make this appeal fully confident of the President’s appreciation of the value  of a Freedom of Information Act in promoting good governance, transparency and  accountability, and responsive government services.

RIGHT TO KNOW. RIGHT NOW! COALITION

1.Bishop Broderick Pabillo, Auxillary Bishop, Manila; National Director of  CBCP-National Secretariat for Social Action  Justice&Peace (NASSA-JP)
2.Dr. Florangel Rosario – Braid Member, 1986 Constitutional Commission and Chair,  Communication, UNESCO National Commission of the  Philippines
3.Mr. Vincent T. Lazatin, Transparency and Accountability Network 
4.Ms. Malou Mangahas, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism 
5.Mr. Peter Angelo V. Perfecto, Makati Business Club
6.Bishop Benny M. Abante, Jr. BIBLEMODE International; Chairman, Committee on  Public Information, 14th Congress
7.Ms. Adelina Alvarez, Mr. Red Batario, Center for Community Journalism and Development 
8.Atty. Roberto Cadiz, LIBERTAS
9.Prof. Luis Teodoro, Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility
10.Mr. Filomeno S. Sta Ana III, Action for Economic Reforms
11.Ms. Jenina Joy Chavez, Focus on the Global South – Philippines
12.Ms. Rowena Paraan, Mr. Sonny Fernandez, Mr. Nestor Burgos, National Union of Journalists of the Philippines 
13.Ms. Annie Geron, Public Services Labor Independent Confederation  (PSLINK)
14.Dean Antonio La Viña, Ateneo School of Government (ASoG)
15.Mr. Joshua Mata, Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL)
16.Ms. Yuen Abana, Partido ng Manggagawa
17.Ms. Precy Bellomes, MAKABAYAN
18.Mr. Teody Navea, Mr. Gem de Guzman, Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP)
19.Atty. Virginia S. Jose, Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC)
20.Ms. Judy Pasimio, Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center – Kasama sa  Kalikasan
21.Ms. Starjoan Villanueva, Alternate Forum for Research in Mindanao (AFRIM)
22.Mr. Sixto Donato Macasaet, CODE-NGO
23.Mr. Isagani Serrano, Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement
24.Ms. Ana Maria R. Nemenzo, Ms. Mercedes Fabros,  WomanHealth Philippines
25.Prof. Leonor M. Briones, Social Watch Philippines
26.Dr. Rene Ofreneo, Center for Labor Justice
27.Ms. Jelen Paclarin, Women’s Legal and Human Rights Bureau
28.Mr. Jun S. Aguilar, Mr. Elso Cabangon, Filipino Migrant Workers
29. Atty. Eirene Jhone E. Aguila, Team RP; Mr. Harvey Keh, Kaya Natin! Movement for Good Governance  and Ethical Leadership
30.Ms. Teresita Ang See, Citizens Action Against Crime
31.Mr. Joseph Purugganan, EU-ASEAN FTA Campaign Network-Philippines; Stop  the New Round Coalition
32.Mr. Milo Tanchuling, Ms. Maitet Diokno-Pascual, Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC)
33.Mr. Ted Ong, Freedom from Debt Coalition – Iloilo
34.Dr. Sixto K. Roxas, Maximo T. Kalaw Institute for Sustainable  Development
35.Judge Dolores L. Español (Ret.), Transparency International – Philippines
36.Mr. Al Alegre, Foundation for Media Alternatives (FMA)
37.Dr. J. Prospero De Vera III, National College of Public Administration and  Governance
38.Atty. Tanya Lat, IDEALS
39.Mr. Raul Socrates Banzuela, PAKISAMA
40.Mr. Chester Amparo, Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya (KPD)
41.Mr. Lisandro Claudio, Mr. Jeffrey Crisostomo, Akbayan Youth
42.Mr. Ramon Tuazon, Philippines Communication Society
43.Mr. Pablo Rosales, Progresibong Alyansa ng mga Mangingisda  (PANGISDA); Pambansang Katipunan ng Makabayang  Magbubukid (PKMM)
44.Mr. Crispino Aguelo, Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka  (PAKISAMA)
45.Ms. Karen Tañada, Gaston Z. Ortigas Peace Institute
46.Prof. Gigi Francisco, Development Alternatives for Women in the New Era  (DAWN)
47.Mr. Byron Abadeza, Affiliated Network for Social Accountability in East Asia  and the Pacific
48.Mr. Abby Y. Pato, Task Force on Food Sovereignty – Mindanao
49.Ms. Carolyn Arguillas, MindaNews
50.Mr. Abner Francisco, DXCA – FM
51.Mr. Rey Hulog, Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas
52.Mr. Jose Pavia, Philippine Press Institute
53.Ms. Angelica Simone Mangahas, Ateneo Debate Society
54.Mr. Bartholome Guingona, pagbabago@pilipinas
55.Ms. Ellene Sana, Center for Migrant Advocacy (CMA)
56.Ms. Ester Perez, Tagle Concerned Citizens Against Pollution (COCAP)
57.Ms. Luz Malibiran, Community Organizers Multiversity
58.Mr. Doy Cinco, Institute for Popular Democracy (IPD)
59.Ms. Arze Glipo, Integrated Rural Development Foundation
60.Mr. Ric Serrano, Mr. Roland Cabigas, La Liga Policy Institute
61.Mr. Rey Rasing, Labor Education and Research Network (LEARN)
62.Ms. Paulyn Duman, UP Law Student Government
63.Mr. Ed Mora, Pambansang Kaisahan ng Magbubukid sa Pilipinas
64.Prof. Carlos Magtolis, Jr., Siliman University – ASPAP
65.Ms. Evi-Ta Jimenez, Center for People Empowerment in Governance
66.Mr. Ben-Hur Sacopla, Southern Luzon State University ASPAP – Region IV
67.Dr. Buenaventura B. Dargantes, Program on Integrated Water Resources
68.Mr. Boy Nuera, Pandayan para sa Sosyalistang Pilipinas (PANDAYAN)
69.Mr. Roy Calfoforo, People’s Alternative Studies Center for Research and  Education in Social Develoment (PASCRES)
70.Mr. Alain Pascua, Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan All Filipino  Democratic Movement (KAAKBAY)
71.Mr. Reggie Guillen, GCAP-Phils
72.Mr. Horacio T. Cadiz, The Philippine Network Foundation, Inc (PHNET)
73.Mr. Joe Valencia, KASAPI-HELLAS
74.Mr. Nestor Villanueva, Akbayan Greece
75.Ms. Mardi Mapa-Suplido, Negros Peace Watch
76.Dr. Jose Reuben Alagaran, Philippines Communication Society
77.Ms. Aurora Regalado, Management Organization for Development and  Empowerment
78.Mr. Ernesto Lim Jr., People’s Campaign on Agrarian Reform (AR NOW!)
79.Mr. Anthony Marzan, KAISAHAN
80.Mr. Nonoy Oplas, Minimal Government Thinkers
81.Mr. Jesus Vicente Garganera, Alyansa Tigil Mina
82.Ms. Luz Cabucos-Fegarido, RSW
83.Ms. Ma. Lourdes M. Tison, Paghiliusa sa Paghidaet-Negros (PsPN)
84.Ms. Trinidad Domingo, Pambansang Koalisyon ng Kababaihan sa Kanayunan
85.Mr. Richard Gutierrez, Ban Toxics
86.Mr. Czarina Sacaguing, Confederation of Student Government in the  Philippines
87.Dr. Ma. Olivia Domingo, Center for Leadership, Citizenship and Democracy, UP  NCPAG
88.Dr. Angelo Ramos, Philippine Community e-Center Network
89.Ms. Mae Sabio, Sulong CARPER
90.Mr. Diosdado Calmada, PEACE
91.Ms. Lanie Factor, Task Force Mapalad
92.Ms. Maris Dela Cruz – Cardenas EmPOWER Consumers
93.Atty. Elpidio Peria, Third World Network; Vice Chairman, Social Concerns  Committee, IBP South Cotabato – General Santos City
94.Mr. Angelito R. Mendoza, Coalition for Health Advocacy and Transparency
95.Mr. Omi Royandoyan, Centro Saka 
96.Ms. Florencia Casanova-Dorotan, Women’s Action Network for Development
97.Ms. Violeta Corral, Aksyon para sa Kapayapaan at Katarungan
98.Ms. Michelle Domocol, Visayas Climate Action Network
99.Ms. Maita Gomez, Bantay Kita
100.College Editors Guild of the Philippines
101.Ms. Emy M. Santos, National Confederation of Cooperatives (NATCCO)
102.Ms. Tes M. Borgoños, Manggagawang Kababaihang Mithi ay Paglaya  (MAKALAYA)
103.Ms. Marilyn Fuentes, National Union of Building and Construction Workers
104.Atty. Michael Yu, Integrated Bar of the Philippines – Cebu City Chapter
105.Dr. Sylvia Estrada Claudio, Center for Women’s Studies, University of the  Philippines
106.Ms. Tin Borja, UP ALYANSA
107.Mr. JC Tejano, UP BUKLOD CSSP
108.Mr. Romeo Cabugnasan, Alyansa ng Maralitang Pilipino
109.Mr. Gus Miclat, Initiative for International Dialogue
110.Mr. Antonio Claparols, Mr. Javier Claparols, Ecological Society of the Philippines
111. Dr. Helen N. Mendoza, Soljuspax
112.Ms. Maria Rita Melecio, Task Force Detainees of the Philippines – Davao
113.Mr. Juanito Enriquez, Civil Society Organization Forum for Peace
114.Edeliza Hernandez, Medical Action Group
115.Ms. Laudica Casana, Anda Rural Women Workers Alliance for Progress
116.Ms. Flordeliz Abanto Philippine Association of Communication Educators  Foundation, Inc. (PACE)
117.Ms. Victoria M. Segovia, Partnership for Clean Air
118.Ms. Grace Chua, Consumer Rights for Safe Food
119.Ms. Noemi Tirona, Network Opposed to GMOs
120.Ms. Leah Primitiva Samaco-Paquiz , Ang Nars
121.Mr. Manny C. Calonzo, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives
122.Ms. Paula Mae B. Tanquieng, Ayos na Gamot sa Abot-Kayang Presyo (AGAP)
123.Ms. Annie M. Sandalo, Code Foundation, Inc.
124.Ed Caharian, Philippine Agency for Community and Family
125.Fr. Victor “Junvic” Diolata, Jr., SSS , Fr. Jesus Malit, SSS , Sr. Mary John Mannanzan, OSB , Association of Major Religious Superiors  of the Pilippines (AMRSP)
126.Mr. Narciso Jover Jr., Tri-people Concern for Peace, Progress and  Development of Mindanao (TRICOM)
127.Atty. Gloria Estenzo Ramos, Atty. Dante T. Ramos,  Phil. Earth Justice Center, Inc.
128.Maria V. Mendoza, Fair Trade Alliance – Philippines (FairTrade)
129.Mr. Tirso N. Paglicawan, Jr. Kapisanan ng mga Kawani ng Koreo sa Pilipinas
130.Mr. Dante Dean M. Barola (KKKP); Hukuman ng Mamamayan Movement, Inc.
131.Mr. Manuel G. Rama, PhilPost Rank-and-File Employees Association
132.Ms. Marlene Ramirez, AsiaDHRRA
133.Ms. Minerva Gonzales, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Asia
134.Mr. Angelito Calderon, Lakas Mangagawa Labor Center (LMLC)
135.Ms. Ember Cruz, Trade Advocates Group
136.Ms. Mary Joycer Filomeno, Youth Advocates for Economic Progress (YAEP)
137.Ms. Eileen Matute, Coconut Industry Reform Movement (COIR)
138.Mr. David Diwa, National Labor Union
139.Mr. Angel Dimalanta, Automotive Industry Workers Alliance
140.Mr. Ritz Lee B. Santos III, Balay Alternative Legal Advocates for Development in  Mindanaw (BALAOD Mindanaw); Amnesty International –  Cagayan de Oro
141.Ms. Lia Jasmin Esquillo, Interface Development Interventions
142.Mr. Nazaño Cacayan, Yamog Foundation
143.Mr. Frank Meno, Philippine Metalworkers Alliance (PMA)
144.Mr. Eleuterio Tuazon, Philippine Association of Free Labor Unions
145.Mr. Ronaldo Tuazon, Workers Welfare Watch – Philippines
146.Mr. John Gamit, Christian Life Community of the Philippines
147.Mr. Manny Arias, Kongreso ng Pagkakaisa ng Mangagawa sa Pilipinas
148.Ms. Romina Astrid Lim, Fisheries Improved for Sustainable Harvest Project
149.Mr. James Auste, Cancer Warriors Foundation
150.Mr. Vince Cinches, Central Visayas Fisherfolk Development Center Inc.
151.Dr. Suzette H. Lazo, MD
152.Mr. Ronald Adlawan, Youth for Nationalism and Democracy
153.Fr. Carmelo O. Diola, Dilaab Foundation Inc.
154.Mr. Roberto Versola, Philippine Greens
155.Mr. Riedo Panaligan 
156.Ms. Evangeline Crisostomo Escobillo
157.Mr. Felipe Buencamino
158.Ms. Jessica Reyes-Cantos, Rice Watch and Action Network
159.Prof. Michael Alba, UP School of Economics
160.Atty. Nepomuceno Malaluan, Institute for Freedom of Information