MANILA, Mar. 4 (PNA) --The Senate is set to pass the Freedom of
Information (FOI) bill on third and final reading on April 10.
The measure hurdled the Senate floor with no trouble on second
reading Monday night after concluding the period of amendments.
Senator Grace Poe, sponsor of Senate Bill 1733 or the FOI bill,
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,” Poe, chairperson of the Senate committee on public information and
mass media, said.
Among the amendments to the FOI bill are the tightening of the
provision on personal privacy and sensitive personal information by defining
its parameters.
The senators also approved amendment on the expansion of the
concept of national security by including health pandemics and similar
situations reflecting the modern definition of national security.
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 has also been included in the controversial
bill.
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.
(PNA)
PDS/JFM
PDS/JFM
