With over 38,000 signatures, FOI petition reaches Palace
MANILA, Philippines — Freedom of Information (FOI) advocates on Friday submitted to Malacañang a petition urging President Benigno Aquino III and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte to pass the long-overdue legislation that would strengthen government transparency and accountability.
Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda received the 3,000-page petition that collected about 38,200 signatures. He had a dialogue with the FOI advocates afterwards.
PS Lacierda @dawende & FOI advocates in dialogue after receiving the 3,000 page petition with 38,200 signatures :-) pic.twitter.com/WuY9ueknIC
— Abi Valte (@Abi_Valte) July 25, 2014
The petition was started online by the Right to Know, Right Now! Coalition through the website Change.org. It reached more than 16,200 online signatures and over 21,900 in written signatures as of Thursday.
According to the group, the petition will also be sent to Belmonte.
"Umaasa kami, bilang mamamayan, ng konkreto at pinag-ibayong aksyon. Kasama nito ang pagbilang sa FOI sa pinagsamang mga prayoridad ng Executive at Kongreso, at pagtakda ng timetable sa pagpasa nito," the petition addressed to Aquino read.
"Gayundin, sana ay mapakilos ang kaukulang mga ahensya at komite para isulong ang mabilis na pag-galaw ng pagsasabatas sa darating na sesyon ng Kongreso, at makipag-ugnayan sa Senado para pag-isahin ang huling balangkas ng FOI," it also said.
Last March, the Senate approved on third and final reading the FOI bill sponsored by Senator Grace Poe.
The bill empowers citizens to have the right to request and be granted access to records or information that are under government control, subject to reasonable exceptions.
The pending FOI bill will require government officials to act or comply with the request for information within 15 working days.
Aquino assured last week that the FOI bill will be enacted into law before his term ends. Belmonte, on the other hand, had assured that the measure will be passed within the 16th Congress.
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