There is still hope for the passage of the Freedom of Information Act in the 14th Congress when session resumes on May 24, 2010. The rule giving privileged status to Bicameral Conference Committee Reports in the consideration of business remains applicable to the FOI Bill. If enacted, the Freedom of Information Act will no doubt be a historic and lasting legacy to political reform by the 14th Congress.

Thus, we call upon Speaker Prospero Nograles to lead the House to put the Freedom of Information bill first in the order of business on May 24, before they convene as Board of Canvassers, to ratify it and transmit it immediately to the President for signing into law.

We also call upon Senator Benigno Aquino III, having been voted President by an overwhelming number of Filipinos on a platform of transparent and accountable government, to use his mandate and exert leadership to rally support for the ratification of the Freedom of Information Act in the House of Representatives.

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After almost a decade of disillusionment, distrust and deep frustration with government, the Filipino people have shown a reignited spirit of active citizenship as thousands volunteered to help ensure clean and honest elections and millions braved long lines under the intense heat of the sun to cast their votes. The results of the elections also show the public’s deep yearning to stamp out rampant corruption from government and move towards change and improvement in the lives of the Filipino people.

Many painful and difficult reforms will have to be undertaken by the next administration and this will require the continued active citizenship of the people. Government must see the public as a partner in reform and in the fight against corruption. It must equip the public with tools to facilitate their effective engagement with government.

One such tool is access to information, a guaranteed right by the constitution that has not been effectively exercised due to the lack of details for its implementation. The Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill addresses this to enable citizens to gain full access to public information. The legislation has already passed the bicameral conference committee and has been ratified by the Senate. However, the House of Representatives and its leadership failed to deliver on its commitment to ratify the FOI Bill before Congress recessed in February 2010 for the elections.

Last Gasp of Hope in the 14th Congress

There is still hope for the passage of the Freedom of Information Act in the 14th Congress when session resumes on May 24, 2010. The rule giving privileged status to Bicameral Conference Committee Reports in the consideration of business remains applicable to the FOI Bill. With the political will of our elected representatives, the Freedom of Information Act can be ratified by the House of Representatives, and transmitted immediately to the President for enactment into law. If enacted, the Freedom of Information Act will no doubt be a historic and lasting legacy to political reform by the 14th Congress.

Thus, we call upon Speaker Prospero Nograles to lead the House to put the Freedom of Information bill first in the order of business on May 24, before they convene as Board of Canvassers, to ratify it and transmit it immediately to the President for signing into law.

We also call upon Senator Benigno Aquino III, having been voted President by an overwhelming number of Filipinos on a platform of transparent and accountable government, to use his mandate and exert leadership to rally support for the ratification of the Freedom of Information Act in the House of Representatives.