House approves Right to Information bill on final reading

The House of Representatives unanimously approved the Right to Information (RTI) bill on third and final reading late Tuesday night.

House Bill No. 9397, or the “Act Upholding the People’s Constitutional Right to Access Information and Promoting Full Public Disclosure of All Government Transactions Involving Public Interest,” secured 284 affirmative votes with zero negative votes and zero abstentions.

The measure seeks to allow citizens access to official records, contracts, expenditures, policy documents, research data, and other information used by government agencies in making decisions that affect the public.

It covers the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, constitutional commissions, government-owned and controlled corporations, state universities and colleges, local government units, and other government instrumentalities.

The bill also creates an independent Right to Information (RTI) Commission that will oversee implementation, hear appeals on denied requests, investigate violations, and enforce compliance across government agencies.

It likewise establishes a centralized online RTI portal where citizens may file, monitor, and track requests for information electronically.

“The right to information is a constitutional right that empowers citizens to participate meaningfully in governance, demand accountability from public officials, and strengthen democratic institutions,” House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos, one of the bill’s authors, said.

Marcos said the measure balances transparency with necessary safeguards.

“When government information is accessible, citizens are better equipped to make informed decisions and actively participate in nation-building," he said.

"This measure strengthens transparency while ensuring that legitimate concerns involving privacy, national security, and sensitive information remain protected under clearly defined safeguards,” Marcos added.

The bill also requires all government offices to designate RTI officers and decision-makers to ensure prompt action on information requests.

It further mandates the proactive publication of government budgets, expenditures, procurement contracts, audit findings, annual reports, performance indicators, public programs, and the utilization of public funds, among other records of public interest.

Other authors of the measure include Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Lordan Suan, and House Committee on Appropriations Chair and Nueva Ecija 1st Dist. Rep. Mikaela Angela Suansing.—MCG, GMA News