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Action for Economic Reforms

FOI ON TRACK, WE LOOK AHEAD TO RATIFICATION OF BICAM REPORT

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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