Joint statement of academics for FOI
18 January 2013
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 enough time to pass the bill. We press the fifteenth congress to take action and pass the FOI bill now.
Signed,
- Prof. Carmela Abao, Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University
- Prof. Flordeliz L. Abanto, Mass Communication Department, St. Scholastica’s College-Manila
- Prof. Joy Aceron, Ateneo School of Government, Ateneo de Manila University
- Prof. Arjan P. Aguirre, Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University
- Dr. Michael Alba, President, Far Eastern University
- Dr. Fernando Aldaba, Economics Department, Ateneo de Manila University
- Dr. Aileen S.P. Baviera, Asian Center, UP Diliman
- Dr. Edsel L. Beja Jr., Economics Department, Ateneo de Manila University
- Dr. Ma. Luisa De Leon-Bolinao, History Department, UP Diliman
- Prof. Ma. Teresa Briones, Ateneo School of Government, UP Diliman
- Dr. Tina S. Clemente, Asian Center, UP Diliman
- Dr. Lisandro Claudio, Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University
- Dr. Sylvia Estrada Claudio, Center for Women’s Studies, UP Diliman
- Dr. Antonio P. Contreras, Department of Political Science, De La Salle University
- Dr. Nicole Curato, Department of Sociology, UP Diliman
- Dr. Soledad M. Dalisay, Department of Anthropology, UP Diliman
- Dr. Buenaventura Dargantes, Institute for Strategic Research and Development Studies, Visayas State University
- Dr. Clarissa David, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman
- Dr. Maria Helen F. Dayo, Gender Centre, UP Los Baños
- Dr. J. Prospero E. de Vera, National College of Public Administration and Governance, UP Diliman
- Prof. Yolanda G. Ealdama, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman
- Prof. Adonis Elumbre, College of Social Sciences, UP Baguio
- Prof. Josefa Francisco, Women and Gender Institute, Miriam College
- Dr. Eduardo T. Gonzalez, Asian Center, UP Diliman
- Dr. Marita Castro Guevara, Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, Ateneo de Manila University
- Dr. Filomin Candaliza-Gutierrez, Department of Sociology, UP Diliman
- Prof. Ronald D. Holmes, Department of Political Science, De La Salle University
- Dr. Antonio La Vina, Ateneo School of Government, Ateneo de Manila University
- Dr. Joseph Anthony Lim, Economics Department, Ateneo de Manila University
- Dr. Amado M. Mendoza, Jr., Department of Political Science, UP Diliman
- Dr. Maria Fe Villamejor Mendoza, National College of Public Administration and Governance, UP Diliman
- Dr. Lilibeth Miralles, Associate Professor and Research Unit Head, Visayas State University
- Prof. Praksis Miranda, Department of Sociology, UP Diliman
- Prof. Louie C. Montemar, Department of Political Science, De La Salle University
- Prof. Emeritus Francisco Nemenzo, Jr., Department of Political Science, UP Diliman
- Dr. Rene E. Ofreneo, School of Labor and Industrial Relations, UP Diliman
- Dr. Rosalinda Pineda Ofreneo, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman
- Dr. Mary Racelis, Institute of Philippine Culture, Ateneo de Manila University
- Prof. Sabrina Nikki Ramos, Department of Sociology, UP Diliman
- Prof. Rene Raymond R. Raneses, Jr., Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University
- Prof. Ranjit Rye, Department of Political Science, UP Diliman
- Dr. Neil Martial R. Santillan, Department of History, UP Diliman
- Dr. Alma Maria O. Salvador, Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University
- Prof. Teresita Ang See, College of Social Sciences, Ateneo de Manila University
- Dr. Carolyn I. Sobritchea, Asian Center, UP Diliman
- Prof. Randy Jay C. Solis, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman
- Dr. Eduardo Climaco Tadem, Asian Center, UP Diliman
- Dr. Teresa Tadem, Department of Political Science, UP Diliman
- Prof. Efenita M. Taqueban, Department of Anthropology, UP Diliman
- Prof. Carlos P. Tatel, Jr., Department of Anthropology, UP Diliman
- Prof. Philip Arnold P. Tuano, Economics Department, Ateneo de Manila University
- Dr. Victor S Venida, Economics Department, Ateneo de Manila University
- Prof. Nathalie A. Verceles, Department of Women and Development Studies, UP Diliman
- Prof. Carmela Abao, Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University
- Prof. Flordeliz L. Abanto, Mass Communication Department, St. Scholastica’s College-Manila
- Prof. Joy Aceron, Ateneo School of Government, Ateneo de Manila University
- Prof. Arjan P. Aguirre, Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University
- Dr. Michael Alba, President, Far Eastern University
- Dr. Fernando Aldaba, Economics Department, Ateneo de Manila University
- Dr. Aileen S.P. Baviera, Asian Center, UP Diliman
- Dr. Edsel L. Beja Jr., Economics Department, Ateneo de Manila University
- Dr. Ma. Luisa De Leon-Bolinao, History Department, UP Diliman
- Prof. Ma. Teresa Briones, Ateneo School of Government, UP Diliman
- Dr. Tina S. Clemente, Asian Center, UP Diliman
- Dr. Lisandro Claudio, Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University
- Dr. Sylvia Estrada Claudio, Center for Women’s Studies, UP Diliman
- Dr. Antonio P. Contreras, Department of Political Science, De La Salle University
- Dr. Nicole Curato, Department of Sociology, UP Diliman
- Dr. Soledad M. Dalisay, Department of Anthropology, UP Diliman
- Dr. Buenaventura Dargantes, Institute for Strategic Research and Development Studies, Visayas State University
- Dr. Clarissa David, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman
- Dr. Maria Helen F. Dayo, Gender Centre, UP Los Baños
- Dr. J. Prospero E. de Vera, National College of Public Administration and Governance, UP Diliman
- Prof. Yolanda G. Ealdama, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman
- Prof. Adonis Elumbre, College of Social Sciences, UP Baguio
- Prof. Josefa Francisco, Women and Gender Institute, Miriam College
- Dr. Eduardo T. Gonzalez, Asian Center, UP Diliman
- Dr. Marita Castro Guevara, Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, Ateneo de Manila University
- Dr. Filomin Candaliza-Gutierrez, Department of Sociology, UP Diliman
- Prof. Ronald D. Holmes, Department of Political Science, De La Salle University
- Dr. Antonio La Vina, Ateneo School of Government, Ateneo de Manila University
- Dr. Joseph Anthony Lim, Economics Department, Ateneo de Manila University
- Dr. Amado M. Mendoza, Jr., Department of Political Science, UP Diliman
- Dr. Maria Fe Villamejor Mendoza, National College of Public Administration and Governance, UP Diliman
- Dr. Lilibeth Miralles, Associate Professor and Research Unit Head, Visayas State University
- Prof. Praksis Miranda, Department of Sociology, UP Diliman
- Prof. Louie C. Montemar, Department of Political Science, De La Salle University
- Prof. Emeritus Francisco Nemenzo, Jr., Department of Political Science, UP Diliman
- Dr. Rene E. Ofreneo, School of Labor and Industrial Relations, UP Diliman
- Dr. Rosalinda Pineda Ofreneo, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman
- Dr. Mary Racelis, Institute of Philippine Culture, Ateneo de Manila University
- Prof. Sabrina Nikki Ramos, Department of Sociology, UP Diliman
- Prof. Rene Raymond R. Raneses, Jr., Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University
- Prof. Ranjit Rye, Department of Political Science, UP Diliman
- Dr. Neil Martial R. Santillan, Department of History, UP Diliman
- Dr. Alma Maria O. Salvador, Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University
- Prof. Teresita Ang See, College of Social Sciences, Ateneo de Manila University
- Dr. Carolyn I. Sobritchea, Asian Center, UP Diliman
- Prof. Randy Jay C. Solis, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman
- Dr. Eduardo Climaco Tadem, Asian Center, UP Diliman
- Dr. Teresa Tadem, Department of Political Science, UP Diliman
- Prof. Efenita M. Taqueban, Department of Anthropology, UP Diliman
- Prof. Carlos P. Tatel, Jr., Department of Anthropology, UP Diliman
- Prof. Philip Arnold P. Tuano, Economics Department, Ateneo de Manila University
- Dr. Victor S Venida, Economics Department, Ateneo de Manila University
- Prof. Nathalie A. Verceles, Department of Women and Development Studies, UP Diliman
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REFERENCE:
Dr. Nicole Curato | 09285009353 | nccurato@upd.edu.ph