FOI bill moves closer to passage at Senate

MANILA, Philippines - The  Freedom of Information (FOI) bill hurdled the period of amendments on Monday after senators passed it on second reading.

The senators concluded the period of amendments that upheld, among others, a provision that protects personal privacy and sensitive personal information.

Among the amendments to the FOI bill are the (1) tightening of the provision on personal privacy and sensitive personal information by defining its parameters; (2) the expansion of the concept of national security by including health pandemics and similar situations reflecting the modern definition of national security; and (3) the mandatory posting by government agencies in their official websites of the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth of officials with salary grade 27 or higher.

Sen. Grace Poe, chairperson of the Senate committee on public information and mass media, acknowledged the support of senators, advocates and the public in the progress of the measure in the upper chamber.

“This measure will arm the public with the tool to scrutinize government transactions to ensure the highest interests of our people and the country,” said Poe, sponsor of Senate Bill 1733 or the FOI bill.

After the approval on second reading, Senate President Franklin Drilon immediately directed the secretariat to provide all senators a clean copy of the measure.

Drilon said he is hoping  the measure will be passed on third and final reading on March 10.

The FOI measure shall allow every Filipino citizen to request and be granted access to any record or information that is under the control of the government, subject to reasonable exceptions.

The Senate version is a consolidation of 12 bills, including the indirect petition of the advocacy group Right to Know, Right Now! Coalition.