03 December 2013

[FYI in the Inquirer] Letter to the Editor: On FOI bill: hope stronger than fear


From http://opinion.inquirer.net/66585/on-foi-bill-hope-stronger-than-fear.

Last Nov. 26, the House of Representatives’ committee on public information held its second meeting where it tackled the various Freedom of Information (FOI) bills. We, youth leaders, attended the hearing and were able to witness the discussions and various manifestations from the committee members. (For almost a decade, FOI advocates have been campaigning in every Congress for a transparent and accountable government. And they are wary of those who wish to delay the enactment of an FOI law.)

During the discussions, Diwa Partylist Rep. Emmeline Aglipay motioned for the chair to mandate the would-be Technical Working Group to finish the consolidation of the FOI bills by the second week of February next year. From this point, arguments were raised and clarifications were made.

Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello’s words were music to our ears: “We have to show to Malacañang that we are serious in getting through the passage of the bill.” With a vote of 10-5, the committee approved Aglipay’s motion.

The FOI Youth Initiative, a network of youth organizations advocating the passage of the People’s FOI, is grateful to the members of the House who do not tire in fighting for the people’s right to know. In the midst of all the subtle delaying tactics of its anti-FOI members, the FOI champions consistently and selflessly show how they firmly heed the call of the people they represent.

Just like how Katniss Everdeen has sparked an uprising, we hope that we, the youth, could inspire others to fight for our constitutionally guaranteed rights. And indeed, in this struggle, hope is stronger than fear.

ALLAN PANGILINAN, convener, FOI Youth Initiative (FYI) / councilor, UP Diliman CSSP Student Council, youth4foi@gmail.com

17 October 2013

[FYI in the Inquirer] Letter to the Editor: Majority Leader Gonzales still to refer People’s FOI bill to info committee




With the resumption of the session of the 16th Congress, we in the FOI Youth Initiative (FYI) call on our legislators to show sincerity in their vow to cleanse government of corruption and to turn it into an institution worthy of the citizens’ trust.

The Senate is already moving quickly to pass the People’s Freedom of Information Act. The House of Representatives, however, has yet to even refer the bill filed by the Right to Know, Right Now! Coalition to the committee on public information.

As co-sponsor of the proposed People’s FOI Act by virtue of the petition for indirect initiative, we in the FYI were there when the bill was filed last July 1 the first day of submission of legislative measures in Congress. More than three months have passed, and the committee on rules headed by Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II has yet to refer the proposal to the appropriate committee.

During this time when the people are slowly losing hope in government, it is incumbent upon our elected representatives in the House to act swiftly and concretely in restoring our trust.

We call on Majority Leader Gonzales to immediately refer the People’s FOI bill to the House Committee on Public Information when their session resumes. Once this happens, we then call on Rep. Jorge Almonte, the chair of the committee, to be decisive in approving the consolidated proposals for FOI so that it may be tackled and passed by the House of Representatives once and for all.

We, the people, expect nothing less from those who are mandated to represent our interests.

ALLAN PANGILINAN,
Councilor, UPD CSSP Student Council / Co-convener, FOI Youth Initiative, 
youth4foi@gmail.com

14 October 2013

11 October 2013

[FYI in Manila Bulletin] Youths urge congress: Act quickly on FOI bill


by Ellson Quismorio

Manila, Philippines – Youth groups called on members of the House of Representatives (HoR) to act speedily for the passage of the People’s Freedom of Information (FOI) Act just days before the resumption of sessions of the 16th Congress.

Pressuring the congressmen — who are still on vacation — is the FOI Youth Initiative (FYI), an alliance of 139 organizations of youth and student leaders who said legislators have a lot to prove in the light of the recent episodes of alleged corruption.

“(They must) show sincerity in their desire to cleanse government of corruption and to turn it into an institution worthy of the citizens’ trust,” said FYI convener Allan Pangilinan.

The multi-billion peso pork barrel scandal delivered a huge black eye to both chambers of Congress, and it’s a black eye that proponents of the pro-transparency bill claimed could have been avoided with a timely passage of an FOI Act.

“The Senate is already moving quickly to pass the People’s FOI Act. The House of Representatives, however, has yet to even refer the bill filed through indirect initiative by the people to the Committee on Public Information,” Panaligan said.

Pangilinan, along with AJ Montesa of the UP Economics Towards Consciousness (ETC), are the signatories of the FYI in the petition for indirect initiative and in the People’s FOI Act filed by the groups comprising the Right to Know, Right Now! Coalition.

“We were there when we filed the bill last July 1, the first day of submission of legislative measures in Congress. More than three months have passed, and the Committee on Rules headed by Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II has not yet referred the proposal to the appropriate committee,” said Pangilinan.

The House Committee on Public Information chaired by Misamis Oriental Rep. Jorge Almonte has scheduled its first meeting on October 22 and is expected to tackle the various FOI bills and resolutions filed so far in the HoR. The Lower Chamber reconvenes this coming Monday, October 14.

“During this time when the people are slowly losing hope in the government, it is incumbent upon our elected representatives in the House to act swiftly and concretely in restoring our trust,” Pangilinan said.

“We call on Majority Leader Gonzales to immediately refer the People’s FOI Act to the House Committee on Public Information when their session resumes on October 14. Once this happens, we then call on Rep. Jorge Almonte, the chair of the committee, to be decisive in approving the consolidated proposals for FOI so that it may be tackled and passed by the House of Representatives once and for all. We, the people, expect nothing less from those who are mandated to represent our interests,” said the convener.

07 October 2013

UPLB College of Development Communication Student Council and Organizations: Freedom is not an option.

The College of Development Communication Student Council (CDC SC) and the UP Alliance of Development Communication Students (ADS) of the University of the Philippines - Los Baños are partner organizations of the FOI Youth Initiative (FYI).



06 October 2013

[FYI in Rappler] An anthem for the Freedom of Information


by David Lozada

FOI FOR ALL. FYI plans to inform as many people as possible of the benefits of
having a Freedom of Information Bill. Screen cap from the music video

MANILA, Philippines - Students and youth leaders have turned to music and online video to push for the passage of the People’s Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill.

The FOI Youth Initiative (FYI), a national network of 137 youth and student organizations from all over the country, released the song entitled “Tayo na para sa FOI” as part of a broader campaign to lobby for the FOI bill.

Djerilee Medina, who composed the song with fellow FYI member Nic Angeles, said the group thought a music video would reach out to more people.

“We found the need to creatively send out our message to both our fellow youth and our elected policy-makers through the song, which conveys our desire for a government that is transparent and accountable to the people,” Medina said.

FYI co-convener Allan Pangilinan said the song will serve as the official campaign anthem of FYI.

"We found it necessary to create a catchy anthem that will reflect the aspirations of the youth for the government that we will eventually inherit," FYI told Rappler.



Other initiatives

On July 1, FYI joined other members of the Right to Know, Right Now! coalition in filing for the “People's FOI bill" through an indirect initiative - a mechanism in the Constitution that allows any “duly accredited people’s organization” to file a petition in Congress for a law they want passed.


The group also called on President Benigno Aquino III to pass the FOI bill before his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 22. They expressed their disappointment when the FOI was not mentioned in the President’s SONA.

In a related initiative, FYI actively campaigned to scrap the pork barrel system. They also joined the #MillionPeopleMarch in Luneta last National Heroes’ Day, August 26.

On September 27, FYI participated in the Light Up for FOI, a candle lighting protest held in front of the House of Representatives.

LIGHT FOR HOPE. Students with other FOI advocates light candles in front of the
House of Representatives to push for the bill . Photo from FYI Facebook page

Angeles, who is a member of the UP Diliman College of Social Sciences and Philosophy (UP CSSP) Student Council, hopes that lawmakers will get the message.

“Some legislators believe that this measure will only serve the interests of the media. However, through our various efforts in our campaign, we want them to realize that FOI is for everyone— it is for each and every freedom-loving Filipino,” Angeles said.

Nationwide spread

FYI continues to recruit more youth and student organizations from schools throughout the country. The group said this strategy will help them win the support of more legislators.

"By strengthening our numbers, we can effectively carry out a legislative lobbying campaign where we will engage legislators, especially the District Representatives of our various organizations in different provinces," FYI told Rappler.

The group established provincial chapters to localize the People's FOI campaign and gather more support from Filipinos.

The chapters also help in the group's education campaigns.

‘Tayo na para sa FOI’

Below are the lyrics of the song. The video was shot and edited by Renz Noveloso. It was released during the International Right to Know Day last September 28.

Nais namin ng pamahalaang may pananagutan.
Bakit ito ipinagkakait, diba't ito ay aming karapatan?

Ito ang aming awitin. 
Pakinggan ang tinig namin.

Tayo na, tayo na, tayo na, kabataan.
Tayo na, tayo na, isulong ang panawagan at ipaglaban.
Ang dapat malaman ng mamamayan
ay makakamtan lang kung ating buksan.
Tayo na, ipasa na, para sa bayan.

Nais namin na magkaroon ng bukas na pamahalaan,
'yong walang tinatago at tapat sa mamamayan.

Hayaan kaming silipin,
Impormasyong dapat ay abot namin.

Tayo na, tayo na, tayo na, kabataan.
Tayo na, tayo na, isulong ang panawagan at ipaglaban.
Ang dapat malaman ng mamamayan
ay makakamtan lang kung ating buksan.
Tayo na, ipasa na, para sa bayan.

Kung walang tinatago, wala ring dapat ikatakot.

Tayo na, tayo na, tayo na, kabataan.
Tayo na, tayo na, isulong ang panawagan at ipaglaban.

Tayo na, tayo na, tayo na, kabataan.
Tayo na, tayo na, isulong ang panawagan at ipaglaban.
Ang dapat malaman ng mamamayan
ay makakamtan lang kung ating buksan.
Tayo na, FOI, para sa bayan.

FOI, ipasa na para sa bayan.

-Rappler.com

IGNITE-NCPAG: For transparency and accountability, pass the People's FOI now!




03 October 2013

[FYI in the Northern Philippine Times] Editorial: Freedom of information



At a time when the people, are losing faith in top elected and executive officials of this country because of scams and scandals involving public funds like the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), officials who profess to serve the country with “tuwid na daan” should now act with speed and sincerity in making sure that an honest-to-goodness Freedom of Information bill would be ratified.  
              
 It is also high time that the President concretely expresses his support for this piece of legislation that will institutionalize transparency and accountability in government.

The sponsorship of the People’s Freedom of Information Bill ahead of its original schedule in the Senate, as propounded by Sen. Grace Poe, is most welcome. Indeed, the right of the people to access to information should be taken seriously by senators, congressmen and other top officials.
                
Proponents, to include the FOI Youth Initiative, are saying the House of Representatives should take their cue from their counterparts in the handling of the FOI bill if they are serious in transforming government into an institution that is transparent and trustworthy.

The Lower House, they said, should guarantee that the measure will be considered the soonest possible time by the committee on public information headed by Rep. Jorge Almonte.

It may be asking for the moon, but then the country’s top elected officials may yet be made to ratify the FOI bill considering they would be opening themselves and other branches of government like executive and judiciary to scrutiny on how they use their PDAF and other public funds.   

Those in government who profess to the ideals of “tuwid na daan” should now show the way in making government transparent in how it uses public funds. The public is watching and basing from surveys, they want a Freedom of Information Law now to check excesses of government and make it more responsive to the needs of the people.
               

02 October 2013

[FYI in Former Rep. Tañada's Abante Column] Kandila para sa People’s FOI Bill


TAPAT DAPAT column of former Deputy Speaker Erin Tañada
From http://www.abante.com.ph/issue/oct0213/op_et2.htm.

Noong nakaraang Biyernes, 27 September 2013, hindi ko nadaluhan ang isang aktibidad na nais ko sanang puntahan -- ang pagtitipun-tipon upang magsindi ng kandila sa harap ng Kongreso upang hilingin ang mas kongkretong aksyon dito hinggil sa People’s Freedom of Information (FOI) bill. Ako ay isa sa mga ordinaryong mamamayang nag-endorso nito pero nagkataong mayroon akong naging kompormiso na hindi ko na maiurong. Masaya ako noong naiulat sa akin na kahit na umuulan, natuloy ang pagsisindi ng kandila at pagtitipong ito.

Hiniling ng mga miyembro ng Right-to-Know Right Now Network na maisama na sa First Reading at ma-refer na ito sa Committee on Public Information ang People’s FOI Bill. Ayon sa Section 11 ng Republic Act 6735 (The Initiative and Referendum Act) na kung saan ang petisyon para sa People’s FOI bill ay inihapag, kahit anong may akreditasyong people’s organization ay maaaring maghain ng petisyon para sa tinatawag na “indirect initiative” sa House of Representatives. Susundin nito ang proseso na katulad ng isang ordinaryong panukalang batas na naihapag sa Kongreso, subalit ang nasabing “initiative bill” ay may prayoridad kumpara sa iba pang mga nakahapag na panukala sa Komite.

Mga pananalita, pagsasayaw at flash mob ang nangyari sa harap ng Kongreso habang inihahapag ang kahili­ngang sundin ang nasa batas hinggil sa indirect initiative. Syempre, may kantahan din. Heto ang lyrics ng isang kantang nilikha ng mga kabataang miyembro ng FOI Youth Initiative:

TAYO NA PARA SA FOI

Music & Lyrics: CSSP Student Council
Producers: FOI Youth Initiative & Right to Know Right Now Coalition


Nais namin ng pamahalaang may pananagutan.
Bakit ito ipinagkakait, ‘di ba’t ito ay aming karapatan?
Ito ang aming awitin. 
Pakinggan ang tinig namin.

Tayo na, tayo na, tayo na, kabataan.
Tayo na, tayo na, isulong ang panawagan at ipaglaban.
Ang dapat malaman ng mamamayan ay makakamtan lang kung ating buksan.
Tayo na, ipasa na, para sa bayan.

Nais namin na magkaroon ng bukas na pamahalaan,
‘yong walang tinatago at tapat sa mamamayan.

Hayaan kaming silipin,
Impormasyong dapat ay abot namin.

Tayo na, tayo na, tayo na, kabataan.
Tayo na, tayo na, isulong ang panawagan at ipaglaban.
Ang dapat malaman ng mamamayan
Ay makakamtan lang kung ating buksan.
Tayo na, ipasa na, para sa bayan.

Kung walang tinatago, wala ring dapat ikatakot.

Tayo na, tayo na, tayo na, kabataan.
Tayo na, tayo na, isulong ang panawagan at ipaglaban.

Tayo na, tayo na, tayo na, kabataan.
Tayo na, tayo na, isulong ang panawagan at ipaglaban.
Ang dapat malaman ng mamamayan
Ay makakamtan lang kung ating buksan.
Tayo na, FOI, para sa bayan.

FOI, ipasa na para sa bayan.

Sana ay matapatan ng Kongreso ang naging aksyon ng Senado na ngayon naman ay naunang gumalaw hinggil sa panukalang ito. Bago sila nag-recess, na-sponsor nakaagad ni Senator Grace Poe ang FOI Bill.

Sa totoo lang, noong ika-13 at 14 na Kongreso, nauuna ang House of Representatives na ipasa ang FOI. Ngayon ay mukhang mababaligtad ang sitwasyon. Huwag naman sana. Pero para sa akin, mas maagang mapagdebatehan ang panukalang ito, mas mabuti para naman mawala ang agam-agam ng ibang iniisip na maaari itong maabuso at maipagpatuloy natin ang kampanya para sa tuwid na daan.

29 September 2013

UP Kalipunan para sa Agham Panlipunan at Pilosopiyang Pilipino (KAPPP): People's FOI, ipasa na!




UP ALYANSA: Pass the People's FOI Act Now!

UP ALYANSA at the #LightUp4FOI event at the
House of Representatives last 27 September 2013.
In 2002, more than half a century after the very first session of the UN General Assembly that pronounced* freedom of information (FOI) as a "fundamental human right" and the "touchstone of all the freedoms to which the United Nations is consecrated," advocates and organizations from around the world, gathered in a conference in Bulgaria, declared the 28th of September as the International Right to Know Day. Since that day, around 65 countries** have adopted their own versions of laws implementing FOI, constituting about two thirds of today's total number of countries with FOI laws.

In the Philippines, the citizens' right to access public information was first nominally recognized under the 1973 Constitution. This was followed by a declaration in the 1987 Constitution of full public disclosure as a policy of the State. However, without a law providing for procedures and penalties for violations, these express constitutional provisions have been nothing more than words on paper. Indeed, without an FOI act, Marcos smoothly facilitated a dictatorship, Estrada and Arroyo freely stole while in power, and Napoles, transcending administrations, schemed for senators and congressmen fake projects and NGOs.

Thus, in the midst of scandals of systemic corruption orchestrated for years and decades beyond the public eye, UP Alyansa ng mga Mag-aaral para sa Panlipunang Katwiran at Kaunlaran (UP ALYANSA), in solidarity with more than a hundred other organizations under the FOI Youth Initiative (FYI) and the Right to Know, Right Now! Coalition, challenges the legislature on this eve of the International Right to Know Day: Legislate the People's FOI Act now.

For a right so basic in any democracy, the struggle for freedom of information in the country has been far too long. 

As years pass by without an FOI act, billions and billions of public funds are lost to secret transactions and unexplained items of expenditures in government. The pork barrel scam today, for example, covers several years of misuse and misappropriation in the past that would have been discovered earlier by the public under the People's FOI Act. If only the measure were already in force, ordinary citizens would have had the right to demand, through appropriate procedures, information on PDAF projects in the past - including reports on disbursements and whether or not the projects were in fact implemented. If officials charged with custody of these documents refused, penalties under the law would have been imposed.

Beyond procedures and penalties, however, the People's FOI Act also represents a crucial element of democratic political life: a culture of participatory governance. If passed, the People's FOI Act will institutionalize people power by providing access to information needed by ordinary citizens to take a more active role in policymaking, administration, and service delivery. Indeed, beyond the obvious benefits of the measure to media institutions, the People's FOI Act will also encourage professionals, academics, volunteers, and legitimate non-profit organizations, with their dynamism and political will, to conduct research initiatives, start visionary projects, and assist government in its various services. The end result is a mature democratic culture wherein both government and civil society serve as key partners in governance.

The struggle for freedom of information in the country must now therefore end. While we laud the recent expression of support from Malacanang and the start of plenary debates over the proposed legislation in the Senate, the real battle now lies in the House of Representatives, where the bill met its fiercest, albeit hushed, opposition in the previous Congress.

Thus, we challenge the President, who promised passage of the bill during his election campaign in 2010, to start walking the talk and certify the People's FOI Act as urgent. Indeed, without an FOI act, the Aquino administration would have practically failed in its anti-corruption drive. Without the passage of the People's FOI Act, the tuwid na daan will be nothing more than a PR campaign and a slogan for impeaching and arresting opponents.

Pass the People's Freedom of Information Act NOW!

____________________________________________________

* Resolution 59(I) of the United Nations General Assembly: http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/59(I)&Lang=E&Area=RESOLUTION

** Secondary statistic from http://right2info.org/access-to-information-laws/access-to-information-laws-overview-and-statutory#_ftnref7

UP Economics Towards Consciousness (ETC): Pass FOI Now!




UP Economics Towards Consciousness (ETC) is one of the 
lead convening organizations of the FOI Youth Initiative (FYI).

22 September 2013

#LightUp4FOI: Candle-Lighting on September 27, 2013, the Eve of the International Right to Know Day







The PDAF Scam exposed how we Filipinos remain victims to plunder despite numerous government mechanisms to protect public funds. In the PDAF system, projects are supposed to conform to a limited menu of eligible project and each project is subject to oversight by Congress, the Department of Budget and Management and the implementing agencies. Each project has to abide by the Procurement Act, stringent guidelines on release of funds and participation by NGOs, and is subject to regular audit by COA. 

Amid the breakdown at different points in government safeguard mechanisms, the calls to address the ills of pork barrel and to bring the guilty to justice, we also demand the immediate passage of the People's Freedom of Information Act. It will empower us to directly protect ourselves against abuses of hard-earned resources that we entrust to government.

The Senate responded with urgency to our call. Public Information Chair Senator Grace Poe already completed the committee process and will present its report to the Senate plenary soon. Senate President Franklin Drilon targets to pass the FOI bill on third reading by end 2013, which, if it happens, will be the fastest ever by a chamber of Congress in the long legislative history of FOI. 

Still, the House of Representatives remains the bastion of resistance to FOI. No credible concrete action to advance the bill has been proposed by its leaders. Worse, old excuses, such as the unavailability of a meeting room, are rehashed to explain inaction.

On Friday, September 27, the Lower House will hold its last session before taking a two-week break. On that day, they will approve the budgets of the Office of the President and the Department of Budget and Management. Budget discussions are an opportune time to press the issue of the pork barrel controversy and to push for transparency in the handling of public funds.

September 27 is also the eve of the International Right to Know Day. The Right to Know. Right Now! Coalition and other concerned groups and individuals will troop to the House of Representatives to convey our urgent demand for the passage of the People's Freedom of Information Act. We invite you to join us.

We will assemble at 5:00 p.m. for a short program. By 6:30 p.m. we will light candles to symbolize our desire to have a government where information is illuminated and made accessible to all citizens. 

Those who will not be able to join us in Batasan are encouraged to organize their own candle-lighting events in their localities. You can also be involved via social media by posting a photo of yourself with a lit candle and a statement stating your call for the passage of the FOI Bill, with hashtag #LightUp4FOI. (Ex. "Ako si [NAME]; kasama ako sa panawagang ipasa na ang FOI Bill! #LightUp4FOI" or "I am [NAME]; I am one with the call for the passage of the FOI Bill! #LightUp4FOI") 

Panahon na para sa FOI sa ating bansa. Sa dami ng lumalantad na isyung may kinalaman sa pondo ng mamamayan, palakasin natin ang panawagang ipasa ang batas na magtitiyak na ang pamahalaan natin ay bukas at may pananagutan.

Tayo na para sa FOI! 

18 September 2013

[FYI in the Inquirer] Congress to vote on FOI bill after Aquino certifies it as urgent—Belmonte


by Leila B. Salaverria
From http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/489533/congress-to-vote-on-foi-bill-after-aquino-certifies-it-as-urgent-belmonte.

MANILA, Philippines — Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said on Tuesday the freedom of information bill would be put to a vote in the 16th congress, especially after President Aquino certified it as urgent.

Belmonte painted a more optimistic future for the FOI bill on Tuesday, after it stalled in the last two congresses. The measure will be taken up after Malacañang decided to include the transparency and accountability measure in the list of bills it considers urgent and will present to lawmakers during the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council, according to Belmonte.

“It really helps that the Palace itself says okay [to the bill], so that augurs well for the future of that bill in the 16th congress,” Belmonte told reporters on Tuesday.

He also answered in the affirmative when asked if this would guarantee that the bill would be a put to a vote.

He disclosed that he had asked several people to study the different versions of the FOI bill filed in Congress and to provide feedback on the measures.

“In other words, we’re not ignoring it,” he said.

The FOI bill failed to hurdle the 15th Congress, the first congress convened under the Aquino administration. The bill was approved at the committee level, but was not deliberated on and put to a vote in the plenary.

Advocates of the bill, which seeks to lift the shroud of secrecy on government dealings and transactions, had repeatedly called on the President to certify it as urgent, but he did not do so.

Calls to approve the measure intensified following the disclosure of an alleged scheme to channel lawmakers’ pork barrel funds totalling P10 billion to their and their cohorts’ pockets.

According to FOI proponents, having such a transparency measure would prevent similar schemes from taking place.

Meanwhile, the FOI Youth Initiative rejoiced at the reported inclusion of the FOI bill in the list of priority measures.

“Our hope in the struggle for transparency and accountability has been renewed. Our public officials should now realize the dire need for this measure in the wake of all issues of government corruption, especially the PDAF scam,” FYI convenor Allan Pangilinan said in a statement.

[FYI in Pilipino Star Ngayon] Kamara ‘di makikialam



by Butch Quejada, Gemma Garcia

MANILA, Philippines - Hindi makikialam ang Kamara kung may makakasuhang incumbent Congressmen kaugnay sa pork barrel scam. Tiniyak ni House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, kapag may nakaupong kongresista na nakasuhan ay makikisimpatiya siya sa mga ito subalit hindi siya gagawa ng anumang hakbang para tulungan ang mga ito at makialam sa kaso.

Lahat naman umano sila ay accountable sa kanilang mga aksyon bilang mambabatas kaya aminado ito na batik sa buong Kamara ang pork barrel scam.

Hindi naman umano malaki ang epekto nito sa kapulungan dahil nakararami sa 292 kongresista ay matino ang paggamit sa kanilang pork barrel.

Samantala, muling nabuhayan ng pag-asa ang grupong FOI Youth Initiative sa pahayag ni Belmonte na nais niyang pagbotohan sa 16th Congress ngayon ang Freedom of Information bill.

“Nagkaroon kaming muli ng pag-asa sa pakikibaka para sa transparency at accountability,” sabi ni Alan Pangilinan, FYI convenor at UPD CSSPSC Councilor.

Ikinasiya ng FYI na isasama na sa talakayan ng Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) ang naturang panukalang-batas.

“Dapat maunawaan ng mga opisyal ng gobyerno ang matinding pangangailangan sa batas na ito dahil sa mga isyu ng katiwalian tulad ng sa PDAF scam,” sabi pa ni Pangilinan na nagdagdag na silang mga lider-kabataan ay patuloy sa pagsusubaybay sa prosesong dadaanan ng FOI bill sa Kongreso.

02 September 2013

[FYI in the Inquirer] Letter to the Editor: Beyond ‘Million’ march, enact FOI



The crowds in Luneta may not have reached a million, but the hundreds of thousands of Filipinos who were there last Aug. 26 represented more than what the name of the gathering suggested. We were there to embody the struggle of each and every citizen against the evils of corruption in public offices. We, the FOI Youth Initiative (FYI), were there, as well as in other centers of protest across the country, to represent all young Filipinos who seek to inherit a society empowered by a government that is committed to the principles of transparency and accountability.

We in the FYI believe that the war we are waging against corruption must be continued and strengthened. Beyond Aug. 26, we will remain vigilant over the investigation of the pork barrel scam. Beyond Aug. 26, we will call for justice by demanding that all those involved in the misuse of public funds be held accountable. Most of all, beyond Aug. 26, we will intensify our campaign for the enactment of the People’s Freedom of Information Law.

—ALLAN PANGILINAN
FOI Youth Initiative,
youth4foi@gmail.com

28 August 2013

[FYI in the Inquirer] Letter to the Editor: Youth group still hopeful on FOI



 From http://opinion.inquirer.net/59767/youth-group-still-hopeful-on-foi.


We may not have been successful in pushing for Rep. Emmeline Aglipay as chair of the House Committee on Public Information, but we do not count this as a defeat. This changes nothing. Our resolve in our campaign remains steadfast and firm.


We in the FOI [Freedom of Information] Youth Initiative thank Representative Aglipay for her courage to accept the nomination of her colleagues to the position. During this time when government is shrouded by scandals that involve massive misuse of public funds, she continues to be an inspiration to us, the youth, in our struggle for transparency and accountability.

We call on Rep. Jorge Almonte to exercise fairness as chair of the Committee on Public Information. We hope that we can work well with him in our fight for FOI, which should be the centerpiece legislative agenda of the committee that he now leads. He can count on our cooperation and participation in matters involving this particular measure. May he be guided by the same principles that fuel our desire for a government that is open and honest to the people.

—ALLAN PANGILINAN
FOI Youth Initiative (FYI)
youth4foi@gmail.com

26 August 2013

[FYI in Manila Standard Today] Rally takes on varied colors: red, white, blue



by Christine F. Herrera

The colors of the Scrap the Pork Barrel Movement—red, white, blue and a touch of yellow—will festoon the Rizal Partk today amid forecasts of a rainstorm.

The majority in the crowd will come in white as they are politically unaffiliated with any group in the political spectrum.

The Luneta march, dubbed “A Million People March” against the pork barrel, has spontaneously snowballed following a single call: that President Benigno Aquino III give up his own P1-trillion pork barrel if he is sincere in his promise of transparency.

“I am just so outraged by these officials pocketing the taxpayers’ money that I did not find any reason to join any group,” said Pat Punzalan, a salon trainer, who carries a twitter handle @supsup010.

“I will go to Luneta, wearing white to express my outrage and be counted as one of the concerned taxpayers who denounce corruption and demand transparency in governance.”

Punzalan said he would bring Arroz Valenciana to share with equally concerned taxpayer-friends.

No one claims to have organized the rally, so  that all groups were surprised to see one another in a meeting called by the police top brass. Some 3,000 policemen will be deployed to the Luneta to ensure peace and order.

One group leader, Renato Reyes of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, warned against infiltrators and saboteurs who might disrupt the rally that he said would be peaceful.

Reyes had to make a disclaimer on Wednesday after word got around that the protesters would march on the Palace to demand Aquino’s ouster after the protest rally.

Elizabeth Angsioco, national president of the Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines, protested the theme “A million Men March,” insisting that many women would join the rally. Hence the theme was changed to “A Million People March.”

Angsioco’s group will also wear white.

Some groups were demanding an explanation from the Black and White Movement and Kaya Natin, who are now presidential allies.

But the Akbayan party-list, a close ally of the President, said it would mobilize 500 bikers to join the rally.

The Right to Know Right Now coalition and the FYI [FOI Youth Initiative] said they would be joining the rally  to push the Freedom of Information bills.

Ousted Chief Justice Renato Corona will make his first public appearance following his impeachment and will be wearing red. He said the President owed the public the details of his P1-trillion pork barrel.

The allies of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will be wearing blue.


[FYI in Manila Times] More groups join march to press PDAF abolition


by Robertzon F. Ramirez (with reports from Ritchie A. Horario, Catherine Valiente, and AFP)


Excerpt:

Labor and youth groups will join Monday’s pork barrel protest march at Rizal Park in Manila, an event which organizers expect will draw at least a million people.

Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) and FOI Youth Initiative on Sunday said they will march to Luneta to join the clamor for the abolition of the pork barrel system.

Retired Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz also confirmed his attendance, saying he wants to show that he is against the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of lawmakers.

Cruz said joining the march was his personal decision and not that of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

But he said he will not be surprised if Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle shows up because he “cried” over the alleged misuse of legislator’s pork barrel.

The archbishop defended the Catholic Church’s involvement in sociopolitical issues, saying that politicians are abusing and violating one of God’s ten commandments.

“I will enter politics if government officials are exempted from the Ten Commandments one of which is thou shall not steal,” he said.

As of Sunday afternoon, nearly 18,000 people had confirmed they were joining the march that will culminate in what the organizers said is a peaceful “picnic get together” in Rizal Park.

Religious, professional, business and leftist organizations have also signified interest in joining the protest.

“We are aghast, disgusted and enraged at such a wanton display of shamelessness by those who we elected to serve and protect the people,” read a manifesto of support signed by some alumni of the Philippine Military Academy who are no longer in active duty.

“We cannot and we will not tolerate this any more even those from among our own,” it said.

Another group, PM, called on the people who will join today’s rally to demand the realignment of the pork barrel to a fund for universal social services.

Renato Magtubo, PM chairman, said social services should not be based on the discretion of politicians but should be accessible as a matter of right.

Magtubo said the group’s chapters in Cebu, Bacolod, Iloilo and Iligan will join similar activities in the provinces.

“The PDAF, Presidential Social Fund and other incarnations of the pork barrel must be directly allotted to social services that will be accessible to all Filipinos and not be subject to discretion of political patrons. In this way, the evil of patronage and corruption is removed from the delivery of necessary social services such as Philhealth coverage, socialized housing, scholarships, farmers’ subsidies and public employment,” Magtubo said.

He added that the reforms announced by President Benigno Aquino 3rd were not enough.

“At best the reforms may curb rampant corruption but PNoy’s insistence in maintaining the pork barrel means he is strengthening it as an instrument of patronage,” Magtubo said.

The FYI group said its members will also attend the rally “to add our voices to the growing frustrations of the Filipino people over the many instances of corruption in government. This should be the resounding public clamor for FOI that the President and our representatives in both Houses of Congress must hear,” the group said in a statement.

Other organizations will hold simultaneous rallies in Baguio, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Dumaguete, Cagayan De Oro, Dagupan, Puerto Princesa and other key cities.

25 August 2013

One Year of the Youth’s Campaign for Freedom of Information: Our Struggle Continues




Exactly one year ago, the FOI Youth Initiative (FYI) was born.

While we continue to struggle for the passage of the Freedom of Information Law, our victory, so far, can be counted in our numbers. Now, with 129 organizations of young people from all over the country, we have successfully created the first and only national youth network advocating for the enactment of the FOI Bill. Through this, we continue to mount the strongest campaign for transparency and accountability that is empowered by young leaders.

However, our battle is definitely far from over. With the statement of the President that the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) will be abolished, more than ever, we need the FOI Law to further safeguard public funds. Malacañang is said to be waiting for a clear public clamor in order to throw its support for the measure.

In celebration of our first year in the FYI, we will attend the August 26 gathering in Luneta to add our voices to the growing frustrations of the Filipino people over the many instances of corruption in government. This should be the resounding public clamor for FOI that the President and our representatives in both Houses of Congress must hear. Our group will not bring banners bearing our name because the FOI Youth Initiative can be distinctly identified with our presence there as young people seeking transparency and accountability among public officials and offices.

On that day, we will join the Right to Know, Right Now! Coalition, the multi-sectoral alliance for FOI—our elders and mentors in our struggle, at Liwasang Bonifacio at 9:00am. Together, we will march to Luneta in solidarity with the people’s common desire for a government that is open and honest to the people that it serves. #FOInow!

[FYI in the Daily Tribune] Million People’s march takes nationwide dimension


by Alvin Murcia

It appears there’s no stopping the Million People’s march against the pork barrel slated tomorrow, National Heroes Day, as the event took a national dimension with civic groups outside Metro Manila scheduling their own assemblies to show indignation over the abuse of the so-called discretionary funds that amount to billions of pesos in the yearly national budget.

Despite President Aquino’s Friday address on television indicating his desire to scrap the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) for members of Congress but indicated in his statement that the fund, after all, will remain but with stricter disbursement rules, sectoral groups said they will push through with the planned rally tomorrow.

The PDAF was used to be known as the Countryside Development Fund during the time of former President Cory Aquino, and it is merely being renamed based on Aquino’s announcement, the groups said.

Civil society groups particularly the Automated Election System (AES) Watch is calling for the abolition of all pork barrel funds including those used by President Aquino.

According to the AES Watch, elected officials should confine themselves to making and implementing laws to improve people’s lives and ensure that taxpayers money go direct to basic social services like education and health care.

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada announced that Monday’s march at the Rizal Park does not need a permit from his office to proceed.

“It’s a free country. They’re free to express their sentiments. They do not need to get a permit as long as the organizers assures that the rally will be peaceful,” Estrada said.

“Undertaking of government projects should be the Executive’s task not the legislators who are there to make laws,” Estrada said.

In Naga City, Camarines Sur an anti-pork assembly called “Halion an Pork Barrel! Naga March,” is scheduled to start at 9 am in Plaza Rizal at the same time that the protest in Manila is expected to start.

In Davao, a mobilization organized by social media activists will be held at the city’s Rizal Park. The assembly is expected to be a spontaneous rally with no group organizing it.

Militant groups under Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Southern Mindanao Region will also hold a march protest around Davao City. 

Ateneo de Davao University’s President Fr Joel Tabora SJ in his social media accounts encouraged Catholic schools, workers and professionals in the city to join the Davao City protest march.

In Cebu City, social media activists have organized the Cebu Peaceful Protest Against the Pork Barrel with the protesters initially assembling on Fuente Osmeña and then march to Plaza Independencia.

In Palawan, protests will be staged in Baywalk, Puerto Princesa. Palawan and the national government are currently in a wealth-sharing dispute over the Malampaya funds, which is also part of the discretionary funds that is under the disposal of the President.

In Cagayan De Oro, the Kagay-anon Kontra Sa Korap protest is scheduled in Gaston Park at 2 pm on Monday while in Ilo-ilo, a protest rally will start at 9 am on August 26 in Plaza Libertad.

In Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Negrosanons Kontra Korapsyon will stage the protest called “Tipon Tipon Sa Lagoon” in front of the provincial capitol building. A protest in Dumaguete City’s Rizal Boulevard will also be held on Monday.

Groups in Dagupan City, Baguio City, and Digos City, Davao Del Sur are also mounting protest actions against the pork barrel scheme also on Monday. 

On the other hand, the Kilusang Agosto 26 expressed their readiness to occupy Luneta on Monday starting at 9 am to show the indignation of the public about pork barrel.

August Veintiséis, convenor of the Kilusang Agosto 26, called on the public not to fall prey to the flowery words of politicians including that of Aquino.

He cautioned the public about the move of the present administration to divert the issue away from rising poverty and corruption.

He said poverty is still very prevalent in the country and many people suffer from hunger and the government continues to ignore this by being the puppet of capitalists interests.

The Right to Know. Right Now! Coalition also said it heeds the spontaneous call for a people’s march. 

“We join the people in expressing collective indignation over the large-scale budget scam reported by various media outfits and by the Commission on Audit (COA), and currently under investigation by the Department of Justice (DOJ),” the group said.

While we are still far from knowing the complete facts of this controversy, it is already established that corrupt individuals have systematically created bogus non-government organizations or foundations for the purpose of plundering hard-earned taxpayers’ money through ghost projects, under-deliveries, or overpricing in the implementation of the PDAF, the group said.

Already the public rage is bearing positive government response. In addition to the ongoing investigation by the DOJ, the Senate has reversed its earlier decision not to conduct its own investigation. The President has also proposed a “new mechanism” that will embody changes in project scope and budget releases.

Such initial positive responses from the different government agencies, however, should further stoke rather than dampen the spontaneous action in Luneta on August 26. We have just begun to scratch the surface of the issue, the group said.

“Now more than ever we are convinced of the urgency to pass the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act. We cannot help but observe the glaring absence of the passage of the FOI law in the measures on PDAF proposed by the President,” the group said. 

The FOI Youth Initiative (FYI), a national network of 129 youth and student organizations pushing for the passage of the Freedom of Information Law, will also participate in the upcoming August 26 gathering of citizens who are against corruption in government, particularly brought about by the pork barrel system.

“We are in solidarity with the call to abolish the pork barrel. Beyond this, we affirm that one of the solutions to curtail corruption that stems from patronage politics is the enactment of the FOI Law,” said FYI convener Allan Pangilinan, a Philosophy student and a Councilor in the UP Diliman College of Social Sciences and Philosophy Student Council.

“When we have FOI, we will be able to guarantee participatory governance that will ultimately empower the people to become active partners in watching over our public officials whom we elected into office,” added Pangilinan.

The FYI will attend the gathering in Luneta on Monday with the Right to Know, Right Now! Coalition, a multi-sectoral alliance of civil society organizations.

Pangilinan further stated that the group “will not bring banners identifying FYI or any other organization, as prescribed by the organizers of the event. Our presence there as young people coming together to join fellow Filipinos is our clear statement that we have had enough of the old ways of traditional politics.”

The group earlier released a statement asking the government “to efficiently conduct a thorough investigation” of the scandal involving the pork barrel and to punish those found guilty. They also called on the President and members of the House of Representatives and the Senate to “eliminate the pork barrel system to ultimately destroy the root of many sources of corruption in the country.”
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