After long struggle, the passage of the Freedom of Information Act is finally near at hand!
At the resumption of session last Monday (18 January), we marched to the House of Representatives with a rally contingent of 1000 to call on our House of Representatives to stand for Freedom of Information. With Committee on Public Information Chairman Bienvenido Abante, Jr., Vice Chairman Eduardo Zialcita, Committee TWG Chairman Lorenzo “Erin” Tañada III, and Minority member Rufus Rodriguez, we met with Speaker Prospero Nograles to appeal for the immediate constitution of the House Panel to the Bicameral Conference Committee on the Freedom of Information Act.
We were not frustrated. The final act of Congress before it adjourned for the day was the naming of the following members to the House Panel: Rep. Bienvenido Abante, Jr. (Chairman), Rep. Eduardo Zialcita, Rep. Lorenzo “Erin” Tañada III, Rep. Rodolfo Antonino, Rep. Jesus Crispin Remulla, Rep. Rodante Marcoleta for the Majority, and Rep. Joel Villanueva and Rep. Cinchona Cruz-Gonzales for the Minority.
On Wednesday, 20 January, the Bicameral Conference Committee met at the Senate to reconcile the disagreeing provisions of House Bill 3732 and Senate Bill 3308. Present were Senators Alan Peter Cayetano (Chairman) and Juan Miguel Zubiri for the Senate Panel, and Representatives Abante (Chairman), Zialcita, Tañada, Antonino, and Cruz-Gonzales for the House Panel.
We congratulate the conferees present for discharging their legislative work with efficiency and dispatch. Noting that the Senate Committee on Public Information used the House Bill as starting point, the two panels agreed to focus their discussion on the amendments introduced by the Senate. Even as these amendments were meant to address remaining legitimate concerns raised by stakeholders and by Senators, Representatives Abante, Zialcita, Tañada, Antonino, and Cruz-Gonzales still took the responsibility and care to ask further clarifications, and to introduce further refinements and improvements. The result is a reconciled bill that is as much a House as it is a Senate version.
With the Bicameral Conference Committee Report approved on the same day, Freedom of Information is back on track.
We look to the Senate and to the House of Representatives to complete the final legislative actions on the bill this week. With efficient work from the Senate and House Committee secretariats, the Senate Panel has already signed the Bicameral Conference Committee Report and we only await the signatures of the House Panel.
We look forward to the prompt filing of the signed Report and to its distribution to our Senators and Representatives. We eagerly await immediate action by each House on the Bicameral Conference Committee Report. For a few minutes of session on Tuesday or Wednesday (26 or 27 January), we count on our Senators and Congressmen to set aside political contentions that go with the nearing elections, and unanimously ratify the Bicameral Conference Committee Report on the Freedom of Information Act.
The Freedom of Information Act will address the substantive and procedural gaps that have long prevented our full enjoyment of our right to information. It will supply a definite procedure for access, enumerate clearly the information that government may validly keep secret, spell out the remedies in cases of denial, impose penalties for unlawful violation of our right to information, require the automatic disclosure of important government transactions, and establish mechanisms for the active promotion of openness in government.
When finally signed into law by the President, we have no doubt that the Freedom of Information Act will be a strategic and most significant contribution of the 14th Congress to the fundamental renewal of public institutions in our country.
Right to Know. Right Now!
Right to Know. Right Now!
Campaign25 January 2010
1. Rep. Lorenzo Tañada III 4th District, Quezon
Province
2.Rep. Joel Villanueva CIBAC
Party List
3.Rep. Del De Guzman 2nd
District, Marikina City
4. Rep. Riza Hontiveros-Baraquel Akbayan
Rep. Walden Bello
5.Atty. Nepomuceno Malaluan Action
for Economic Reforms (AER)
6. Dr. FlorangelRosario – Braid Asian
Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC)
7. Dean Antonio La Viña
Ateneo School of Government (ASoG)
8. Ms. Angelica Simone
Mangahas Ateneo Debate Society
9. Ms. Adelina Alvarez Center for
Community Journalism and Development (CCJD)
10. Prof. Luis Teodoro Center for Media
Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR)
11. Atty. Roberto Cadiz LIBERTAS
12. Mr. Sonny Fernandez; National Union of Journalists of the
Mr. Nestor Burgos Philippines (NUJP)
13. Mr. Bartholome Guingona
pagbabago@pilipinas
14. Ms. Malou Mangahas
Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ)
15. Mr. Vincent T. Lazatin
Transparency and Accountability Network (TAN)
16. Atty. Virginia S. Jose
Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC)
17. Mr. Joshua Mata
Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL)
18. Mr. Alberto Lim
Makati Business Club
19. Ms. Ellene Sana
Center for Migrant Advocacy (CMA)
20. Ms. Ester Perez Tagle
Concerned Citizens Against Pollution (COCAP)
21. Ms. Luz Malihiran
Community Organizers Multiversity
22. Mr. Sammy Gamboa
EU-ASEAN FTA CampaignNetwork-Philippines
23. Mr. Al Alegre
Foundationfor Media Alternatives (FMA)
24. Mr. MiloTanchuling
Freedomfrom Debt Coalition (FDC)
25. Ms. Judy Pasimio
Legal Rights andNatural Resources Center – Kasama sa Kalikasan
26. Atty. Ma. Tanya Karina Lat; IDEALS, Inc.
Mr. Arnel Mateo
27. Mr. Jude Esguerra; Institute for Popular Democracy (IPD)
Mr. Doy Cinco
28. Mr. Ric Serrano
La LigaPolicy Institute
29. Mr. Rey Rasing Labor Education and Research Network (LEARN)
30. Atty. Farah Marie Decano Lady Local Legislators’ League of the Philippines, Inc. (Four-L Phils.)
31. Mr. Raymond Marvic C. Baguilat
University of the Philippines – Law Student Government
32. Mr. Ed Mora
Pambansang Kaisahan ng Magbubukid sa Pilipinas (PKMP)
33. Mr. Isagani Serrano
Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement
34. Ms. Annie Geron
Public Services Labor Independent Confederation (PSLINK)
35. Mr. Carlos Magtolis, Jr.
Siliman University – ASPAP
36. Ms. Evi-Ta Jimenez
Center for People Empowerment in Governance
37. Mr. Joseph Purugganan
Stop the New Round Coalition
38. Dr. Sixto K. Roxas Maximo T. Kalaw
Institute for Sustainable Development
39. Mr. Ben-Hur Sacopla
SouthernLuzon State University ASPAP – Region IV
40. Ms. Eirene Aguila
Team RP
41. Prof. Leonor M. Briones
Social Watch Philippines
42. Ms. Mae V. Buenaventura
Women’s Legal Bureau, Inc.
43. Ms. Jenina Joy Chavez
Focus on the Global South – PhilippinesProgram
44. Mr. Ramon Tuazon
Philippines Communication Society
45. Ms. Ana Maria R. Nemenzo; Woman Health Philippines
Ms. Mercedes Fabros
46. Dr. Buenaventura B. Dargantes
Program on IntegratedWater Resources
ManagementRDE,
Institute for Strategic Research and Development Studies,
Visayas StateUniversity
47. Mr. Boy Nuera
Pandayan para sa Sosyalistang Pilipinas(PANDAYAN)
48. Mr. Roy Calfoforo
People’sAlternative Studies Center for Research and Education in Social Develoment(PASCRES)
49. Mr. Alain Pascua
Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan AllFilipino Democratic Movement (KAAKBAY)
50. Mr. Horacio T. Cadiz
The Philippine Network Foundation, Inc(PHNET)
51. Mr. Joe Valencia
KASAPI-HELLAS
52. Mr. Nestor Villanueva
Akbayan Greece
53. Mr. Sixto Donato Macasaet
CODE-NGO
54. Mr. Jun S. Aguilar
Filipino Migrant Workers
55. Mr. Pablo Rosales
Progresibong Alyansa ng mgaMangingisda (PANGISDA)
56. Pambansang Katipunan ng Makabayang Magbubukid (PKKM)
57. Kilusan Para sa Pambansang Demokrasya (KPD)
58. Ms. Lourdes M. Tison
Paghiliusa sa Paghidaet-Negros (PsPN)
59. Mr. Abby Y. Pato
Task Force on Food Sovereignty Mindanao
60. Ms. Karen Tañada Gaston Z. Ortigas
Peace Institute
61. Ms. Mardi Mapa-Suplido
Negros Peace Watch
62. Dr. Jose Reuben Alagaran
Philippines Communication Society
63. Ms. Aurora Regalado
Management Organization for Development andEmpowerment, Inc.
64. Mr. Ernesto Lim Jr.
People’s Campaign on Agrarian Reform (ARNOW!)
65. Mr. Anthony Marzan
KAISAHAN
66. Mr. Jesus Vicente Garganera
Alyansa Tigil Mina
67. Ms. Luz Cabucos-Fegarido RSW
68. Ms. Maria Lisa Alano
Alternate Forum for Research in Mindanao(AFRIM), Inc.
69. Dr. Jose Reuben Alagaran II
Philippines Communication Society
70. Ms. Ma. Lourdes M. Tison
Paghiliusa sa Paghidaet-Negros(PsPN)
71. Mr. Joel Saracho
GCAP-Phils
72. Ms. Trinidad Domingo
Pambansang Koalisyon ng Kababaihan saKanayunan
73. Mr. Richard Gutierrez
Ban Toxics
74. Mr. Nonoy Oplas
Minimal Government Thinkers
75. Mr. Harvey Keh
Kaya Natin! Movement
76. Mr. Czarina Sacaguing
Confederation of Student Government in the Philippines
77 Mr. Byron Abadeza
Affiliated Network for Social Accountability in East Asia and the Pacific
78. Dr. Ma. Olivia Domingo
Center for Leadership, Citizenship andDemocracy, UP-NCPAG
79. Dr. Angelo Ramos
Philippine Community e-Center Network
80. Ms. Mae Sabio Sulong
CARPER
81. Mr. Diosdado Calmada
PEACE
82. Ms. Lanie Factor Task Force Mapalad
83. Ms. Maris Dela Cruz – Cardenas
EmPOWER Consumers
84. Mr. Wilson Fortaleza
Partido ng Mangagawa
85. Atty. Elpidio Peria
Third World Network
ViceChairman, Social Concerns Committee, IBP South Cotabato – General Santos
CityChapter
86. Prof. Gigi Francisco
Miriam College – International StudiesDepartment
87. Mr. Obet Pagdanganan
Coalition for Health Advocacy and Transparency(CHAT)
88. Mr. Omi Royandoyan
Centro Saka
89. Ms. Carolyn Arguillas
MindaNews
90. Mr. Abner Francisco
DXCA – FM
91. Ms. Florencia Casanova-Dorotan
Women’s Action Network for Development
92. Ms. Violeta Corral
Aksyon para sa Kapayapaan at Katarungan
93. Mr. Crispino Aguelo
Pambansang Kilusan ng mga SamahangMagsasaka (PAKISAMA)
94. Ms. Michelle Domocol
Visayas Climate Action Network
95. Judge Dolores L. Español (Ret.)
Transparency International –Philippines
96. Mr. Roby Alampay
Southeast Asian Press Alliance
97. Ms. Teresita Quintos Deles
International Center onInnovation, Transformation and Excellence in Governance (INCITEGov)
98. Ms. Maita Gomez
Bantay Kita
99. Mr. Rey Hulog Kapisananng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas
100. Mr. Jose Pavia Philippine Press Institute
101. Mr. Isagani Yambot Philippine Daily Inquirer
102. CollegeEditors Guild of the Philippines
103. Ms. Emy M. Santos National Confederation of Cooperatives(NATCCO)
104. Ms. Tes M. Borgoños Manggagawang Kababaihang Mithi ay Paglaya(MAKALAYA)
105. Ms. Marilyn Fuentes National Union of Building and ConstructionWorkers (NUBCW)
106. Atty. Michael Yu Integrated Bar of the Philippines- CebuCity Chapter
107. Dr. ProsperoE. de Vera National College of PublicAdministration and Governance, University of thePhilippines
108. Sylvia Estrada Claudio, M.D. PhD.Center for Women’s Studies, University of the
Philippines
109. Mr. Viktor Samuel Fontanilla UP ALYANSA
110. Ms. Anna Luz Lopez UP BUKLOD CSSP
111. Mr. Jeffrey Crisostomo AKBAYAN Youth – UP Diliman
112. Ms. Susan Ople Blas OpleFoundation
113. Mr. RomeoCabugnasan Alyansa ngMaralitang Pilipino
114. Initiativefor International Dialogue
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