Palace to present House with own FOI proposals

Malacañang officials will present to the House of Representatives the Aquino administration’s proposals on the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill. Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said on Tuesday the proposals, which will be presented Wednesday, intend to ensure transparency while the rights of individuals especially those in government are protected. “We’re introducing something new," Lacierda said in an interview with reporters after a mass oath taking of government appointees and the Malacañang Press Corps officers. He said Deputy Speaker Lorenzo ‘Erin’ Tañada III will lead the House panel while the Palace team includes Budget Secretary Florencio Abad and Undersecretary Manuel Quezon III of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office. Lacierda said that Abad is drafting the bill while Quezon is in charge of consultations with different media groups. “We want to be as transparent and as open as possible given the limitations of privacy with respect to national security matters and other matters as decided by the Supreme Court. We also looked at other versions," Lacierda explained. Among the FOI versions that the government studied are those of the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom, which he described as the strictest, according to the Palace. Lacierda’s disclosure came as the country and the world marked World Press Freedom Day on May 3. “We’re looking into everything. I think we’re making sure that it will be something acceptable to both the government and the media. We’ve taken also some inputs from the media and so it’s all there already," he added. Lacierda said among the media groups consulted include the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism and the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility. — ELR/VS, GMA News