Right to Information bill passes committee level, says Speaker Dy

The Right to Information bill, aimed at giving the public greater access to government information, has been approved by the House committee on public information, Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III said.

“The measure seeks to implement the people’s constitutional right to access information and enforce the state policy of full public disclosure of government transactions involving public interest. If the public has access to information, it becomes a tool against corruption," Dy said in a statement.

“As a result, the government will be responsible for its actions,” he added.

The unnumbered substitute bill hurdled the committee, chaired by Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Lordan Suan, on March 17. 

Suan said that the information held by the government belongs to the people and should be accessible to enable meaningful public participation in governance.

“By institutionalizing the people’s right to information, we affirm a simple but powerful principle: information held by government is held in trust for the people,” Suan said.

The Speaker’s office said the committee has yet to release a copy of the substitute bill since the consolidated version is still being drafted as of press time. —LDF, GMA Integrated News