COVID-19 pandemic shows importance of passing FOI bill, solons say

The COVID-19 pandemic is highlighting the need to pass the measure that will enable the public's constitutional right of access to information, some lawmakers said on Wednesday.

During a House Committee on Public Information meeting, ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro stressed the importance of passing the Freedom of Information bill so that the public will be informed about the measures being done by the government to address the health crisis.

"Naniniwala kami na binibigyang diin ng kasalukuyang panahon—isang di pangkaraniwan at abnormal panahon—ang kahalagahan ng 'the people’s right to know,'" she said.

[We believe that the current situation—an unusual and abnormal one—highlights the importance of the people's right to know.]

"Knowledge is a weapon of the people against this pandemic; information—or lack thereof—will tell them if their government is not leaving them to their own devices at the mercy of the deadly virus, whether agencies and officials are properly spending their taxes to help them survive," Castro added.

"Ano na ang nagawa at mga ginagawa ng mga ahensya ukol dito? Nasaan ang komprehensibong programang medikal upang hindi na magtagal ang paghihirap namin sa ilalim ng iba’t ibang lebel ng community quarantines?" Castro said.

[What have the agencies done about this? Where is the comprehensive medical program needed that will shorten our hardship under the different levels of community quarantine?]

Castro said an FOI bill would also allow the public to be informed about the loans made by Philippine government due to the pandemic and how the amount will be spent.

Gabriela party-list Representative Arlene Brosas echoed Castro's sentiment, saying that the FOI bill is needed so that the public will know about the conditions of the said loan agreements which the national government entered into.

A technical working group was created to harmonize and discuss the 19 FOI bills filed in the lower chamber. The TWG will be led by Kabayan party-list Representative Ron Salo.

According to Bayan Muna party-list Representative Carlos Isagani Zarate, a bill on freedom of information has been filed since the 8th Congress.

"The farthest the FOI measure has reached in the legislative process was in the 14th Congress, when the substitute bill was approved by the bicameral committee. However, in the 15th Congress, contentious provisions deviating from the original intention of this bill and that of the 14th Congress version delayed its proceedings," he said.

Zarate said in the 16th Congress, a substitute bill with numerous exemptions to the general rule on transparency was approved at the committee level, however, it was never sponsored in the plenary.

"It is high time for the people to have a comprehensive and truly empowering freedom of information law. Thus, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought," Zarate said. — BM, GMA News