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Action for Economic Reforms
Jan 18, 20135 min read

JOINT STATEMENT OF ACADEMICS FOR FOI

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

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