ARTICLE III Section 4 of the Philippine Constitution states that “No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances.”
This is recognized to give people a conducive environment for participation and to allow them to contribute to development, democracy and dialogue.
On July 25, President Rodrigo Duterte signed the executive order on the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill before he delivered his first State of the Nation Address (SONA).
The measure aims to promote transparency in the government and let people have access to information regarding the government’s transactions and processes by making federal documents more available to the public.
If enacted, the FOI bill would grant Filipino citizens the access to any information held by a government agency on matters of public concern, such as documents on government expenditures and the bidding of government projects.
However, this progressive measure has its limits. Based on the recommendation of the Dept. of Justice (DOJ) and the Office of the Solicitor General, Malacañang’s draft of the Freedom of Information (FOI) act manual lists 166 exceptions, including those involving national security, executive privilege and invasion of personal privacy.
Gone are the days of secrecy and authoritarianism. Filipinos deserve the truth, and they now have the power to sway the future of this country to the right direction—through a transparent and accountable government leadership. What’s left is a law to protect it.
According to Inquirer, the list of exceptions include “matters that may put at risk national security and the state’s external and internal defense, as well as information on foreign affairs which may jeopardize diplomatic relations or weaken the government’s position in ongoing negotiations.
“Also on the list is executive privilege involving information on the President’s appointing, pardoning and diplomatic powers. Minutes of decision-making and policy formulation meetings, which the President considers privileged, are also included.
Data that may compromise military or police operations and immigration controls and border security, or put witnesses in danger, are also excepted.”
As contentious as it is, the passage of the FOI bill is covered with greater enthusiasm, both from its representatives in the government and Filipino citizens. It will be subjected to healthy (if not heated) debate for sure. But if the Philippines is to continue its positive streak on good governance, this is a welcome development in fostering public awareness and participation in nation building.
Filipinos people are not denied the chance to witness the progression or regression of what the current administration. Thanks to this measure, civic participation is encouraged now more than ever.
A transparent government allows information about its policies and its implementations to be accessible to the public. In turn, an informed public allows for a more dynamic participation in policy discussions and elections.
More than that, it allows people to keep the government in check. (AJPress)
