22 October 2013
20 October 2013
18 October 2013
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
UP Alliance of Development Communications Students (ADS): Be brave and daring! Pass the People's FOI Act now!
The UP Alliance of Development Communications Students (ADS)
is a partner organization of the FOI Youth Initiative (FYI).
12 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
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.
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