[FYI in Rep. Tañada's Abante Column] FOI at kabataan

From: http://www.abante.com.ph/issue/oct2412/op_et2.htm

Freedom of Information o FOI. Ano ito?

Nakasaad sa ating Sa­ligang Batas na may karapatan tayo sa impormasyong hawak ng pamahalaan ukol sa mga bagay na may epekto sa buhay natin bilang mamamayan. Mula sa sahod at ari-arian ng mga inihalal na opisyal hanggang sa de­talye ng budget, proyekto at kontrata ng gobyerno, mahalagang malaman natin ito upang maging tunay na bahagi ng pagbabantay ng kaban ng bayan.

UPD CSSPSC Chairperson and FYI Convenor Carlo Brolagda
with Deputy Speaker Erin Tañada, principal author of the FOI Bill.

Subalit hindi sapat na nakasaad lang ang karapatang ito sa ating Konstitusyon. Kailangang may ipasang batas ang Kongreso o tinatawag na 'enab­ling law' upang ito ay mabigyang buhay at maisakatuparan. Ang batas na ito ang dapat magtakda kung hanggang saan ang 'freedom' na ito sapagkat tanggapin natin, may mga impormasyon na hindi dapat kaagad nalalaman ng lahat, halimbawa, 'yung patungkol sa segu­ridad ng bayan -- bilang ng armas at ating tropa, saan sila naka-deploy at iba pa.

Lahat tayo panalo 'pag may FOI: May kakaya­han ang mga mamamayang magbantay sa kanilang mga inilagay sa puwesto at magkakaroon ng kapangyarihan ang mga mamamayang labanan ang katiwalian. Ayaw na natin na secret ang mga SALN ng mga kawani at opisyal ng pamahalaan.

Isa ring kasangkapan ang FOI upang maging bukas sa pakikilahok ng mamayan ang pamamahalaan. Kapag mayroon ta­yong tamang impormasyon tungkol sa mga gawain at galaw ng gobyerno, may pagkakataon ta­yong magbigay ng mungkahi o puna upang mas mapabuti pa ang serbisyo para sa mamamayan.

Marami na ang nana­nawagan sa pagpapasa ng FOI Bill at lubos kong ikinagagalak na may bagong nabuong kampanya ang sektor ng kabataan para sa adhikaing ito.

Kamakailan lamang, nailunsad ang FOI Youth Initiative (FYI), pambansang samahan ng mga organisasyon ng mga kabataan sa mga paaralan at pamayanan at ang Disclose All Records (DARE) ng University Student Council ng UP Diliman. Nandiyan din ang Kabataang Liberal at ang Filipino Liberal Youth na aktibo rin sa kampanya. Layunin nilang idagdag ang boses ng kabataan sa pa­nawagan para ipasa ang batas na ito.

Ang FYI mismo ay mahusay ang iba't ibang anyo ng pagkilos -- mula sa pagdalaw sa mga mambabatas upang mag-abot ng kanilang liham na nakasaad ang kanilang posisyon sa isyung ito hanggang sa paggamit nila ng social media kagaya ng Facebook at Twitter para mahikayat ang kapwa kabataan nilang makilahok sa kanilang kampanya.

Tunay na mahalaga ang pagkakaroon ng FOI para sa kanila dahil sila mismo ang magmamana ng kinabukasan ng ating bansa. Ang kabataan din ang mamumuno at papalit sa amin sa pamahalaan sa hinaharap at mainam na ang kultura ng pagkakaroon ng bukas at direktang pananagutan sa mga lingkod-bayan ay nasa sa kanila na.

Hinihikayat ko ang iba pang sektor na gayahin ang mga mas nakababata sa atin sa kanilang kampanya para sa FOI. Sino ba naman ang aayaw sa isang batas na nag-iinstitusyonalisa ng mga mekanismo para sa isang pamahalaang bukas at may pananagutan? Wala naman, hindi ba?

Kaya tara, kasama ng kabataan, magtulungan tayo upang maisabatas ang FOI para tuluy-tuloy ang tuwid na daan.

Young leaders: “There should always be room for FOI!”; Student council reserves a room in their building for Evardone

UP Diliman CSSP Student Council Chairperson and FYI Convenor Carlo Brolagda holding the
Office of Student Affairs venue reservation form for the House Committee on Public Information.

A student council has taken the initiative to provide a venue for the long-delayed Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill hearing in the House of Representatives. Rep. Ben Evardone, Chair of the House Committee on Public Information, earlier reneged on the initial commitment of holding the meeting within the third week of October. According to earlier reports, Evardone pushed the date to November 13 due to the alleged lack of available rooms in the Batasan Complex to accommodate the hearing for the measure.

“Since he didn’t take up Rep. Erin Tañada’s earlier offer of a committee hearing venue, we took it upon ourselves to give him another choice and another chance,” said Carlo Brolagda, Chairperson of the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy Student Council (CSSPSC) of the University of the Philippines - Diliman and Convenor of the FOI Youth Initiative (FYI).

The FYI is a national network of youth and student organizations pushing for the passage of the bill together with the Right to Know, Right Now Coalition.

The CSSPSC made a request to their Office of Student Affairs to reserve a room large enough to house the members of the Committee on Public Information, as well as observers and guests.

“We simply do not understand the excuse they are making this time. It’s quite silly that the availability of a conference room would greatly affect the survival of a relevant piece of legislation like the FOI Bill,” said CSSPSC Councilor Chris Alquizalas.

Alquizalas further stated, “We understand that time is running out since our elected Representatives would be already busy with their respective campaigns for re-election, but they must also recognize the fact that they still have a responsibility to guarantee the enactment of laws that would ultimately benefit the Filipino people.” 

Brolagda added, “If Rep. Evardone and his committee members change their minds about holding the meeting one whole month from now, we have already prepared the necessary documents for them to be able to secure a room here in Palma Hall for an earlier date within this October. We would even shoulder the costs for the use of the venue. This is how eager we young people are for this law to finally move at the committee level.”

“We in the FOI Youth Initiative cannot accept the reason behind this latest delay on the FOI Bill. In a democratic society, there should always be room for FOI!,” ended Brolagda. 

[UPS and FYI in Sun.Star] Union for Progressive Students supports FOI

From http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/2012/10/11/union-progressive-students-supports-foi-247526.

The Union for Progressive Students (UPS), a political organization of the University of the Philippines Cebu, is pushing for the passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act of 2010 into law.

Fight for FOI, Pinoy! is one of the projects under AllStar20, an undertaking of UPS in celebration of the organization's 20th anniversary.

AllStar20 is composed of 20 projects headed by twenty UPS members.

John Isaac Saguit, a second year Computer Science student, is heading Fight for FOI, Pinoy!

"I personally believe that the FOI is the first step for change in our country, this being the reason I chose it as my project. UPS has also always been for transparency," he said.

To show their support, UPS held a "blindfold day" Thursday, October 4, when they blindfolded themselves and the Oblation, and participated in the black shirt day headed by the UP Cebu Student Council.

UPS will be releasing stickers for jeepneys in support of the bill's passage, as well as another statement to prioritize it.

UPS is a member of the FOI Youth Initiative (FYI), a national network of student organizations campaigning for the passage of the FOI Bill in the 15th Congress.

FYI has 40 partner organizations from different schools around the country, majority of them from other UP colleges.

With UPS being the only partner organization in Cebu, Saguit said they haven't had a chance to meet with the other members of FYI because they don't have much activities here.

"UPS is one of the signatories for the FYI manifesto. We extended this project to UP Cebu and included it in the AllStar20 project, thus FOI," said UPS chairman Joni Dumasig.

"UPS believes that all of us have the freedom of information and this includes the guarantee of transparency among public officials and employees. We strongly support the act for we believe it will curb corruption and advance participatory governance which will benefit every Filipino citizen," he added. (Jorja Teresa D. Yrastorza)

[FYI in Sun.Star] Group: No room in election ballots for anti-FOI lawmakers

From http://www.sunstar.com.ph/breaking-news/2012/10/10/group-no-room-election-ballots-anti-foi-lawmakers-247303

MANILA -- No room for the freedom of information (FOI) bill? Then, there’s no room in the 2013 election ballots for you, either.

This was the reaction of a youth group pushing for the enactment of an FOI law following House committee on public information chairman Ben Evardone’s decision to once again defer the hearing on the FOI bill.

“No room for delays. No room for excuses. No room in our ballots in 2013 for public officials who continue to maintain the shroud of secrecy in government! FOI now!” the FOI Youth Initiative (FYI), a national network of youth and student organizations, said in a statement

“We have had enough of excuses from Rep. Evardone, the chairperson of a legislative committee whose supposed main duty is to prioritize measures such as the FOI Bill,” the group said.

On Monday, Evardone said the committee hearing on the FOI bill is rescheduled to November 13 despite House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.’s instruction to hold a hearing next week.

“There is no room available. I asked the ComSec (Committee Secretariat), there is no available slot,” Evardone said.

Anticipating Evardone’s excuse, FOI author Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Taňada took the initiative of reserving a room for a committee hearing but Evardone would not accept his proposal.

The hearing is rescheduled to November 13. “That’s final,” he said.

The FYI also called on the 117 lawmakers who signed a manifesto declaring their support for the passage of the FOI bill to push the measure forward.

Akbayan party-list Representative Walden Bello, one of the signatories, thinks Evardone is “caught in the middle”.

“Mystifying behavior. But there could be people in the House or outside who don’t like the bill passed who are pressing him. The man might be caught in the middle but I hope he finally decides to cast his lot with press freedom,” Bello said in a text message.

Kabataan party-list Representative Raymond Palatino, a member of the public information committee, doesn’t buy Evardone’s excuse.

“If there’s a will, there’s a room. Hold it in the plenary or lobby. I can reserve rooms here in Congress for non-committee functions easily in less than a day. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)

'No room' for FOI? We say, 'No room for delays and excuses!'

Legislative measures that are essential for national progress should never be delayed by silly excuses. Recently, Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone, Chairperson of the House Committee on Public Information, said that the hearing for the Freedom of Information Bill will not push through in October, as originally instructed by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. himself. Instead, Rep. Evardone scheduled it in November since there are allegedly no vacant rooms to accommodate the committee hearing for the said measure.

We in the FOI Youth Initiative (FYI) express our utmost dismay over this new delay on a proposed law that seeks to advance accountability and transparency in government. We have had enough of excuses from Rep. Evardone, the Chairperson of a legislative committee whose supposed main duty is to prioritize measures such as the FOI Bill.

The FYI, a national network of youth and student organizations, condemn this latest attempt to prevent the passage of the FOI Bill. We laud the principal author of the measure, Deputy Speaker Erin Tañada, for taking the initiative of securing a venue for the meeting that we want to happen this October. We call on all the 117 Representatives who signed the manifesto declaring their commitment for the bill's passage to rally behind our champions in the House of Representatives in pushing the measure forward.

We will continue our call to remind our legislators to sincerely fulfill their duties. We young leaders, stakeholders of this nation’s future, will sustain our hope for the enactment of Freedom of Information into law. 

“No room for FOI” in the halls of Congress, says Rep. Evardone. However, we say: “No room for delays. No room for excuses. No room in our ballots in 2013 for public officials who continue to maintain the shroud of secrecy in government! FOI NOW!” 

Union of Progressive Students (UPS): Transcending Privacy for Transparency

How far can one go for the sake of service?

Commitment and Accountability

Public service is a commitment, and a thrust of trust. Aside from the power vested upon public officials and public institutions to govern and organize the people, tasks and responsibilities are part and parcel of it, accountability and transparency not excluded.

The Union of Progressive Students affirms our support to the manifesto and membership of a national coalition of youth organizations strongly supporting theHome passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act—the FOI Youth Initiative (FYI). 

We believe that information is a right, not a privilege

Just as we continue our call for a more responsive and comprehensive STFAP, the University of the Philippines System has received our tuition fee increases reaching hundreds of millions of pesos for the past 6 years that the latest TOFI was implemented; and it is our basic right to know where these funds are going. The administration has all the right to keep transactions of the university kept confidential for security purposes, but at the same time, not to withhold our right to information.

As we call for transparency in our administration in UP, as well as the current Philippine government system, let us all support and be one in our aim to fight for the passage of FOI!

Privacy and Freedom

The same comes true as we oppose specific provisions in the RA 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act that represses our freedom of expression in the cyberworld. UPS strongly believes that the bill—though made into law to protect the Filipino people against cybercrimes such as cyberbullying, cyberprostitution, and cybersex—has provisions that seriously restrict us on our freedom and privacy (especially on our right to rebel and express), that are declared as universal human rights by the United Nations, of which we are a proud member of.

If we truly protect the rights and welfare of our citizens, then we need not hamper other rights to do it. UPS calls the government to junk RA 10175 and reconstitute an unrepressive cybercrime protection law. And as the Supreme Court ruled for a TRO for the said law, let's reconstitute the law to further its best interest but not compromising our freedom.

Public Officials, Claim Commitment and Accountability.

It's time to reconstitute a new Cybercrime Protection Law.

Fight for FOI, Pinoy!

Union of Progressive Students (UPS) is a partner organization of the FOI Youth Initiative (FYI).

An Informed Filipino is an Empowered Filipino! MOVE U.P. Calls for the Passage of the Freedom of Information Bill

An informed citizen is an empowered citizen. The fight for transparency and accountability, and the fight against corruption are not mutually exclusive things. If we want to empower the citizenry, we must give them access to information that would encourage and enable them to make sure that those they elect to public office are doing what they areelected to do. This can only happen if citizens themselves are given access to public records relevant to fighting corruption. Through the currently proposed Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill, we may finally address this need for a law that will promote “openness” in the government and will empower citizens to fight for a transparent and accountable government.

Article III Section 7 of the Philippine Constitution states that “(T)he right of the people to information on matters of public concern shall be recognized”, and yet this very right guarded by the Constitution itself, is not being given enough attention by our lawmakers--there is no legislation that sets the procedures for access and disclosure of information and provides penalties for officials who fail to release the requested information, without justifiable reasons. Despite numerous efforts to pass such measure, none of these saw the light of day. Those who delay such endeavors are obviously protecting their vested interests in the positions they hold. 

We must enact the FOI Bill. If our lawmakers are true to their goal of ending poverty and fighting corruption, let the FOI Bill be the measure of their intentions. After all, transparency and accountability are but prerequisites of an ethical leadership. Their action or inaction to pass a bill that will benefit the nation would reasonably define their stand on the right to be informed, and ultimately, the transparency and accountability of the government as a whole.

We, in MOVE U.P., call for the passage of the FOI Bill. We strongly believe that the FOI Bill is a measure that will ensure a transparent and accountable government, and ultimately, an empowered citizenry. The government must continually regain the trust of its people, and must ensure participation by its stakeholders. The government must see to it that all efforts are made in ending corruption. We do not need another public spectacle to enrage the people; we need a law that will reinforce the need to make all public officials accountable to the people.

FYI, the FOI is OUR issue too! We encourage everyone, particularly, the youth, to study the FOI bill, see how it is doing in Congress, participate in movements that call for its passage, and call on their representatives to support it.

An Informed Filipino is an Empowered Filipino! 

Pass the Freedom of Information Bill!

Movement of Students for Progressive Leadership in UP (MOVE UP) is a partner organization of the FOI Youth Initiative (FYI)

FYI at the Senate with the Right to Know, Right Now! Coalition

Revee Rapallo, Walter Tamayo, and Chris Alquizalas
of the FYI with Senator Alan Peter Cayetano.

Today, the FOI Youth Initiative (FYI) went to the Senate with the Right to Know, Right Now! Coalition for a meeting with Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, one of our Freedom of Information champions. Sen. Cayetano informed the members of the Coalition present that he was ready to deliver his sponsorship speech for their version of the FOI in the Senate, which was nicknamed the "People's Ownership of Government Information (POGI) Bill." 

The Senator expressed his concern to include "Freedom of Information" as part of the title of the measure since this is its internationally accepted identification. 

However, Sen. Cayetano mentioned that the more important matter at hand is not the title, but the content of the proposed law. The Senator was also asked about what he thinks will happen to the FOI Bill in the Senate. He answered, "Right now, I can't tell you any reason na hindi maipapasa ito."

After the meeting, members of the FYI sent copies of the manifesto supporting the passage of the Freedom of Information Law signed by its various partner organizations to the offices of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Sen. Gregorio Honasan, Chair of the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media. 

In the letters accompanying the manifesto, the FYI appealed to the Senators "to be one with our call for transparency and accountability by pushing for the immediate passage of the FOI Law."

[FYI in the Inquirer] Letter to the Editor: Youth watching House leaders’ action on FOI bill

From http://opinion.inquirer.net/37916/youth-watching-house-leaders-action-on-foi-bill.

Freedom of information is an issue that concerns also the youth. We recognize that establishing mechanisms for public transparency and accountability is necessary in shaping a government that is genuinely open and honest to the people. Why would the youth be concerned about such matters? It is because the challenge of leadership in this country will be upon us in the future. And we do not want to inherit a government that fosters a culture of secrecy and distrust. It’s high time for the youth to join the call of various sectors for the enactment of a freedom of information law.

It is in our earnest hope that the House of Representatives and the Senate will remove all obstacles in the enactment of this vital piece of legislation. It does not matter to us that it is a priority of the administration (if indeed it is), because we strongly believe that it should be a priority of a just and free society.

The leadership of the House of Representatives has already declared that this October, there will be a hearing on the FOI bill. Rest assured that young people are watching their every move, whether or not they are fulfilling their promises.

—CHRIS ALQUIZALAS,

FOI Youth Initiative (FYI),

chrisalquizalas@gmail.com

The National Youth Commission joins in the call for the passage of FOI

Recently, the National Youth Commission (NYC) became part of the growing support for the passage of the Freedom of Information Law when it passed Resolution No. 14 s. 2012 or "A Resolution Calling for the Immediate Passage of a Freedom of Information Act."

The NYC resolution called for the swift enactment of the FOI Bill into law and for young people to exercise the values of transparency and accountability found in the measure in their endeavors in organizations, student councils, and the Sangguniang Kabataan.

Commissioner Gio Tingson, the main sponsor of the resolution, said that “we’ve been hearing many youth groups who have become very active in the campaign for transparency saying that the FOI is also a major concern of their sector. This prompted us to be one with the clamor of the Filipino youth who sincerely desire change in this society.”

The youth groups Tingson was referring to are part of the FOI Youth Initiative (FYI), a national network of young people’s organizations, which was launched last August in support of the campaign of the Right to Know, Right Now Coalition.

“We feel that our campaign is being intensified now that the NYC is with us. A government office for the youth that is now part of the struggle for public transparency and accountability shows that the FOI is indeed an issue of young Filipinos,” mentioned Chris Alquizalas of the UPD CSSP Student Council, the convenor of the FYI.

Alquizalas added that “FOI is for everyone. Each and every Filipino now and in the future will benefit from this law as this will curb corruption and promote participatory governance. We hope that our fellow young people will join us in the Committee on Public Information hearing on the FOI Bill to show legislators that the future of this nation is waiting for Congress to pass a law that would result in a government that is open to the people and sincere in its promise of a straight path to progress.” 

The National Youth Commission's Resolution Calling for the Immediate Passage of a Freedom of Information Act