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,

 

  1. Prof. Carmela Abao, Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University
  2. Prof. Flordeliz L. Abanto, Mass Communication Department, St. Scholastica’s College-Manila
  3. Prof. Joy Aceron, Ateneo School of Government, Ateneo de Manila University
  4. Prof. Arjan P. Aguirre, Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University
  5. Dr. Michael Alba, President, Far Eastern University
  6. Dr. Fernando Aldaba, Economics Department, Ateneo de Manila University
  7. Dr. Aileen S.P. Baviera, Asian Center, UP Diliman
  8. Dr. Edsel L. Beja Jr., Economics Department, Ateneo de Manila University
  9. Dr. Ma. Luisa De Leon-Bolinao, History Department, UP Diliman
  10. Prof. Ma. Teresa Briones, Ateneo School of Government, UP Diliman
  11. Dr. Tina S. Clemente, Asian Center, UP Diliman
  12. Dr. Lisandro Claudio, Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University
  13. Dr. Sylvia Estrada Claudio, Center for Women’s Studies, UP Diliman
  14. Dr. Antonio P. Contreras, Department of Political Science, De La Salle University
  15. Dr. Nicole Curato, Department of Sociology, UP Diliman
  16. Dr. Soledad M. Dalisay, Department of Anthropology, UP Diliman
  17. Dr. Buenaventura Dargantes, Institute for Strategic Research and Development Studies, Visayas State University
  18. Dr. Clarissa David, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman
  19. Dr. Maria Helen F. Dayo, Gender Centre, UP Los Baños
  20. Dr. J. Prospero E. de Vera, National College of Public Administration and Governance, UP Diliman
  21. Prof. Yolanda G. Ealdama, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman
  22. Prof. Adonis Elumbre, College of Social Sciences, UP Baguio
  23. Prof. Josefa Francisco, Women and Gender Institute, Miriam College
  24. Dr. Eduardo T. Gonzalez, Asian Center, UP Diliman
  25. Dr. Marita Castro Guevara, Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, Ateneo de Manila University
  26. Dr. Filomin Candaliza-Gutierrez, Department of Sociology, UP Diliman
  27. Prof. Ronald D. Holmes, Department of Political Science, De La Salle University
  28. Dr. Antonio La Vina, Ateneo School of Government, Ateneo de Manila University
  29. Dr. Joseph Anthony Lim, Economics Department, Ateneo de Manila University
  30. Dr. Amado M. Mendoza, Jr., Department of Political Science, UP Diliman
  31. Dr. Maria Fe Villamejor Mendoza, National College of Public Administration and Governance, UP Diliman
  32. Dr. Lilibeth Miralles, Associate Professor and Research Unit Head, Visayas State University
  33. Prof. Praksis Miranda, Department of Sociology, UP Diliman
  34. Prof. Louie C. Montemar, Department of Political Science, De La Salle University
  35. Prof. Emeritus Francisco Nemenzo, Jr., Department of Political Science, UP Diliman
  36. Dr. Rene E. Ofreneo, School of Labor and Industrial Relations, UP Diliman
  37. Dr. Rosalinda Pineda Ofreneo, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman
  38. Dr. Mary Racelis, Institute of Philippine Culture, Ateneo de Manila University
  39. Prof. Sabrina Nikki Ramos, Department of Sociology, UP Diliman
  40. Prof. Rene Raymond R. Raneses, Jr., Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University
  41. Prof. Ranjit Rye, Department of Political Science, UP Diliman
  42. Dr. Neil Martial R. Santillan, Department of History, UP Diliman
  43. Dr. Alma Maria O. Salvador, Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University
  44. Prof. Teresita Ang See, College of Social Sciences, Ateneo de Manila University
  45. Dr. Carolyn I. Sobritchea, Asian Center, UP Diliman
  46. Prof. Randy Jay C. Solis, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman
  47. Dr. Eduardo Climaco Tadem, Asian Center, UP Diliman
  48. Dr. Teresa Tadem, Department of Political Science, UP Diliman
  49. Prof. Efenita M. Taqueban, Department of Anthropology, UP Diliman
  50. Prof. Carlos P. Tatel, Jr., Department of Anthropology, UP Diliman
  51. Prof. Philip Arnold P. Tuano, Economics Department, Ateneo de Manila University
  52. Dr. Victor S Venida, Economics Department, Ateneo de Manila University
  53. Prof. Nathalie A. Verceles, Department of Women and Development Studies, UP Diliman
  54. Prof. Carmela Abao, Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University
  55. Prof. Flordeliz L. Abanto, Mass Communication Department, St. Scholastica’s College-Manila
  56. Prof. Joy Aceron, Ateneo School of Government, Ateneo de Manila University
  57. Prof. Arjan P. Aguirre, Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University
  58. Dr. Michael Alba, President, Far Eastern University
  59. Dr. Fernando Aldaba, Economics Department, Ateneo de Manila University
  60. Dr. Aileen S.P. Baviera, Asian Center, UP Diliman
  61. Dr. Edsel L. Beja Jr., Economics Department, Ateneo de Manila University
  62. Dr. Ma. Luisa De Leon-Bolinao, History Department, UP Diliman
  63. Prof. Ma. Teresa Briones, Ateneo School of Government, UP Diliman
  64. Dr. Tina S. Clemente, Asian Center, UP Diliman
  65. Dr. Lisandro Claudio, Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University
  66. Dr. Sylvia Estrada Claudio, Center for Women’s Studies, UP Diliman
  67. Dr. Antonio P. Contreras, Department of Political Science, De La Salle University
  68. Dr. Nicole Curato, Department of Sociology, UP Diliman
  69. Dr. Soledad M. Dalisay, Department of Anthropology, UP Diliman
  70. Dr. Buenaventura Dargantes, Institute for Strategic Research and Development Studies, Visayas State University
  71. Dr. Clarissa David, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman
  72. Dr. Maria Helen F. Dayo, Gender Centre, UP Los Baños
  73. Dr. J. Prospero E. de Vera, National College of Public Administration and Governance, UP Diliman
  74. Prof. Yolanda G. Ealdama, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman
  75. Prof. Adonis Elumbre, College of Social Sciences, UP Baguio
  76. Prof. Josefa Francisco, Women and Gender Institute, Miriam College
  77. Dr. Eduardo T. Gonzalez, Asian Center, UP Diliman
  78. Dr. Marita Castro Guevara, Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, Ateneo de Manila University
  79. Dr. Filomin Candaliza-Gutierrez, Department of Sociology, UP Diliman
  80. Prof. Ronald D. Holmes, Department of Political Science, De La Salle University
  81. Dr. Antonio La Vina, Ateneo School of Government, Ateneo de Manila University
  82. Dr. Joseph Anthony Lim, Economics Department, Ateneo de Manila University
  83. Dr. Amado M. Mendoza, Jr., Department of Political Science, UP Diliman
  84. Dr. Maria Fe Villamejor Mendoza, National College of Public Administration and Governance, UP Diliman
  85. Dr. Lilibeth Miralles, Associate Professor and Research Unit Head, Visayas State University
  86. Prof. Praksis Miranda, Department of Sociology, UP Diliman
  87. Prof. Louie C. Montemar, Department of Political Science, De La Salle University
  88. Prof. Emeritus Francisco Nemenzo, Jr., Department of Political Science, UP Diliman
  89. Dr. Rene E. Ofreneo, School of Labor and Industrial Relations, UP Diliman
  90. Dr. Rosalinda Pineda Ofreneo, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman
  91. Dr. Mary Racelis, Institute of Philippine Culture, Ateneo de Manila University
  92. Prof. Sabrina Nikki Ramos, Department of Sociology, UP Diliman
  93. Prof. Rene Raymond R. Raneses, Jr., Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University
  94. Prof. Ranjit Rye, Department of Political Science, UP Diliman
  95. Dr. Neil Martial R. Santillan, Department of History, UP Diliman
  96. Dr. Alma Maria O. Salvador, Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University
  97. Prof. Teresita Ang See, College of Social Sciences, Ateneo de Manila University
  98. Dr. Carolyn I. Sobritchea, Asian Center, UP Diliman
  99. Prof. Randy Jay C. Solis, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman
  100. Dr. Eduardo Climaco Tadem, Asian Center, UP Diliman
  101. Dr. Teresa Tadem, Department of Political Science, UP Diliman
  102. Prof. Efenita M. Taqueban, Department of Anthropology, UP Diliman
  103. Prof. Carlos P. Tatel, Jr., Department of Anthropology, UP Diliman
  104. Prof. Philip Arnold P. Tuano, Economics Department, Ateneo de Manila University
  105. Dr. Victor S Venida, Economics Department, Ateneo de Manila University
  106. 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