Poe supports FOI bill, but cautious on right of reply

MANILA, Philippines - Neophyte Sen. Grace Poe expressed support for the passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill in the upcoming 16th Congress.

Poe, however, expressed reservations on the provision on right of reply in some versions of the measure.

As she noted the importance of the FOI bill, Poe pointed out the need to weigh the issues surrounding the right of reply, and national security.

She also batted for the need to fund proper archiving of government information.

“The information will all be nothing if not properly kept,” Poe said.

Poe said she is in the process of reviewing the versions filed by the advocacy groups, as well as the version of Malacañang.

She said the FOI measure would be a parallel move to the administration’s transparency and anti-corruption campaign.

“How will we know what the government is actually doing if we don’t have complete access of documentation? So we welcome all versions that are filed,” Poe said.

Poe welcomed the move of groups advocating the passage of the measure at the House of Representatives.

She said she sees nothing wrong with the move of Right to Know, Right Now coalition’s plan to file a copy of their version before the House of Representatives once the 16th Congress convenes on July 22.

“I think that’s very good. Lobbying, sometimes, has been given a bad spin. But if it’s a legitimate NGO that represents the will of the people, it’s important that they take an active role in lobbying for the interest of the public, and one of these interests is the FOI bill,” Poe said.

Poe was asked about the FOI measure shortly after she was asked if she is interested in the chairmanship of the Senate committee on mass media and public information, which was chaired by Sen. Gregorio Honasan in the last Congress.

Poe said she is ready to head the committee if given the chance.

The Senate passed the FOI version, dubbed as People’s Ownership of Government Information (POGI) bill, in the 15th Congress, but the House of Representatives failed to act on it.

As this developed, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano re-filed an updated version of the FOI measure.

“By passing the FOI, we can institutionalize the government’s efforts in implementing Tuwid na Daan (straight path) policy ,” Cayetano said.