Where are we now in our struggle for the passage of the Freedom of Information Act? Find out what has happened to the FOI Bill so far in the legislative process of the House of Representatives and the Senate through this infographic.
14 February 2014
[FYI in the Inquirer] Letter to the Editor: ‘You’ve got nothing to fear if you’ve got nothing to hide’
From http://opinion.inquirer.net/69097/youve-got-nothing-to-fear-if-youve-got-nothing-to-hide.
The year 2013 has just ended and we’re barely into the new year. It’s the perfect time to look back at our victories and successes, but it’s also an opportune time to think about the steps we’d like to take moving forward. That’s why the new year is the time when people start making resolutions and renewing promises long forgotten.
A resolution that we’d like to see from our government, if that government does choose to move on the straight road forward, is a commitment to transparency and accountability. For all the talk of reform and the clamor against corruption, there is one great resolution that has yet to be realized: the Freedom of Information Law. It is a resolution, an old promise, that we’ve been trying to keep for more than 20 years now.
Now, more than any other time, we are hopeful. We are hopeful that our Congress will finally decide to take that great step towards reform. We are hopeful that our public servants finally make the change to end all the corruption and abuse of power we are so tired of hearing about. The new year gives us new hope: that our government can finally act out that commitment to a transparent, accountable and democratic standard.
The Senate is making great progress with the FOI bill. But this leaves much to be desired from the House of Representatives which has a great deal of catching-up to do. So to the representatives of the people who are having second thoughts or doubts about the FOI bill, you’ve got nothing to fear if you’ve got nothing to hide.
Hopefully, 2014 will be the year when we can finally fulfill that commitment to the freedom of information.
—AJ MONTESA,
President, UP Economics Towards Consciousness (ETC);
Convener, FOI Youth Initiative (FYI),
youth4foi@gmail.com
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 November 2013
12 November 2013
03 November 2013
01 November 2013
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