Joint statement of university professors for FOI

We, the undersigned faculty of various universities, in our individual capacity as scholars and citizens, urge our Representatives in Congress to pass the Freedom of Information bill.

 

We consider the bill an important piece of legislation to uphold our fundamental right to publicly-held information. As scholars, we view access to data as an integral component in evidence-based research. Currently, the arbitrary roadblocks set by public offices are barriers to a sincere examination of government operations. As citizens, access to information is critical to responsible participation in national life. Transparency is our greatest defense against public officials who have diverged from the will of the electorate. It is also valued highly by public servants who have done right and performed well. 

 

We express concern that failure to pass the bill in the fifteenth congress sets back the administration’s reform agenda at a crucial time when transparency in governance needs to be institutionalized. It is unacceptable that a progressive piece of legislation is held hostage by politicians with vested interest seeking to incapacitate citizens who aim to hold them accountable. 

 

There is still enough time to pass the bill. We press the fifteenth congress to take action and pass the FOI bill now. 

 

Signed,  

1. Prof. Carmela Abao, Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University

2. Prof. Flordeliz L. Abanto, Mass Communication Department, St. Scholastica's College-Manila

3. Prof. Joy Aceron, Ateneo School of Government, Ateneo de Manila University 

4. Prof. Arjan P. Aguirre, Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University

5. Dr. Michael Alba, President, Far Eastern University

6. Dr. Fernando Aldaba, Economics Department, Ateneo de Manila University 

7. Prof. Marinela M. Aseron, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman

8. Dr. Aileen S.P. Baviera, Asian Center, UP Diliman

9. Dr. Edsel L. Beja Jr., Economics Department, Ateneo de Manila University

10. Dr. Ma. Luisa De Leon-Bolinao, History Department, UP Diliman 

11. Dr. Angelina E. Borican, Publications Office, Polytechnic University of the Philippines

12. Prof. Ma. Teresa Briones, Ateneo School of Government, Ateneo School of Government

13. Dr. Rhodora Masilang-Bucoy, Political Science Program, UP Cebu

14. Prof. Valerie Pagasa P. Buenaventura, Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University

15. Prof. Jason Vincent A. Cabanes, Department of Communication, Ateneo de Manila University 

16. Prof. Nelson G. Cainghog, Department of Political Science, UP Diliman

17. Dr. Loreta Castro, Miriam College

18. Dr. Tina S. Clemente, Asian Center, UP Diliman

19. Dr. Lisandro Claudio, Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University

20. Dr. Sylvia Estrada Claudio, Center for Women’s Studies, UP Diliman

21. Prof. Jose Antonio R. Clemente, Department of Psychology, UP Diliman

22. Dr. Antonio P. Contreras, Department of Political Science, De La Salle University

23. Dr. Nicole Curato, Department of Sociology, UP Diliman 

24. Dr. Soledad M. Dalisay, Department of Anthropology, UP Diliman

25. Dr. Buenaventura Dargantes, Institute for Strategic Research and Development Studies, Visayas State University

26. Dr. Clarissa David, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman

27. Dr. Maria Helen F. Dayo, Gender Centre, UP Los Baños

28. Dr. J. Prospero E. de Vera, National College of Public Administration and Governance, UP Diliman

29. Prof. Josephine Dionisio, Department of Sociology,  UP Diliman

30. Prof. Yolanda G. Ealdama, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman

31. Prof. Adonis Elumbre, College of Social Sciences, UP Baguio

32. Dr. Elizabeth L. Enriquez, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman

33. Prof. Melba S. Estonilo, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman

34. Prof. Nicardo M. Falcis II, Business Administration Department, UP Diliman

35. Prof. Josefa Francisco, Women and Gender Institute, Miriam College 

36. Dr. Jean S. Encinas-Franco, Department of Political Science, UP Diliman

37. Dr. Eduardo T. Gonzalez, Asian Center, UP Diliman

38. Dr. Marita Castro Guevara, Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, Ateneo de Manila University

39. Dr. Filomin Candaliza-Gutierrez, Department of Sociology, UP Diliman  

40.  Prof. Jose C. Gutierrez III, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman 

41. Prof. Vito Hernandez, Archaeological Studies Program, University of the Philippines

42. Prof. Ronald D. Holmes, Department of Political Science, De La Salle University 

43. Prof. Arturo Benedicto M. Ilano, College of Business Administration, UP Diliman

44. Dr. Grace Gorospe Jamon, Department of Political Science, UP Diliman

45. Dr. Lydia N. Yu Jose, Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University

46. Dr. Antonio La Vina, Ateneo School of Government, Ateneo de Manila University

47. Dr. Maria Elissa Jayme Lao, Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University

48. Dr. Joseph Anthony Lim, Economics Department, Ateneo de Manila University 

49. Prof. Eric Julian Manalastas, Department of Psychology and Centre for Women’s Studies, UP Diliman

50. Dr. Florinda D.F. Mateo, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman

51. Dr. Teresa Melgar, Department of Sociology, UP Diliman 

52. Dr. Amado M. Mendoza, Jr., Department of Political Science, UP Diliman

53. Dr. Maria Fe Villamejor Mendoza, National College of Public Administration and Governance, UP Diliman

54. Dr. Meynardo P. Mendoza, Department of History, Ateneo de Manila University

55. Dr. Ronald U. Mendoza, Asian Institute of Management

56. Dr. Lilibeth Miralles, Research Unit Head, Visayas State University

57. Prof. Praksis Miranda, Department of Sociology, UP Diliman

58. Prof. Louie C. Montemar, Department of Political Science, De La Salle University 

59. Prof. Emeritus Francisco Nemenzo, Jr., Department of Political Science, UP Diliman

60. Prof. Janine Therese P. Ochoa, Department of Anthropology, UP Diliman

61. Dr. Rene E. Ofreneo, School of Labor and Industrial Relations, UP Diliman

62. Dr. Rosalinda Pineda Ofreneo, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman

63. Dr. Mary Racelis, Institute of Philippine Culture, Ateneo de Manila University

64. Dr. Ma. Lourdes Veneracion-Rallonza, Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University

65. Prof. Sabrina Nikki Ramos, Department of Sociology, UP Diliman 

66. Prof. Rene Raymond R. Raneses, Jr., Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University

67. Prof. Ranjit Rye, Department of Political Science, UP Diliman 

68. Dr. Neil Martial R. Santillan, Department of History, UP Diliman

69. Dr. Alma Maria O. Salvador, Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University

70. Prof. Teresita Ang See, College of Social Sciences, Ateneo de Manila University

71. Dr. Carolyn I. Sobritchea, Asian Center, UP Diliman

72. Prof. Randy Jay C. Solis, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman

73. Dr. Eduardo Climaco Tadem, Asian Center, UP Diliman

74. Dr. Teresa Tadem, Department of Political Science, UP Diliman 

75. Prof. Efenita M. Taqueban, Department of Anthropology, UP Diliman 

76. Prof. Carlos P. Tatel, Jr., Department of Anthropology, UP Diliman

77. Dr. Benito L. Teehankee, Management and Organization Department, De La Salle University

78. Dr. Benjamin T. Tolosa, Jr., Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University

79. Prof. Philip Arnold P. Tuano, Economics Department, Ateneo de Manila University

80. Dr. Faina C. Abaya-Ulindang, History Department, Mindanao State University-Marawi

81. Dr. Helena S. Valderrama, Department of Accounting and Finance, UP Diliman

82. Dr. Victor S. Venida, Economics Department, Ateneo de Manila University

83. Prof. Nathalie A. Verceles, Department of Women and Development Studies, UP Diliman

84. Prof. Myrose April C. Victor, Department of Accounting and Finance, UP Diliman 

85. Dr. Elvira A. Zamora, College of Business Administration, UP Diliman