Palace: Up to Congress to pass FOI bill

MANILA, Philippines - It is up to Congress to pass the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill, Malacañang said yesterday.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the passage of laws is a prerogative of lawmakers, adding that the executive respects the independence of the legislative as a co-equal branch of government.

Coloma said that as things stand, the government has not been remiss in adhering to the principles of FOI.

He said President Aquino would not lobby for the passage of the FOI bill as he did with the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), Reproductive Health Law and sin taxes.

He said that if such were the case, it was as if our democracy hinged only on one person alone, the President.

While he pushed for the legislative agenda of his administration in his remaining 10 months in office, the President in his last State of the Nation Address on Monday did not mention the FOI bill, which was among his campaign promises.

The President asked Congress to pass the BBL, rationalization of fiscal incentives bill, uniformed personnel pension reform bill, 2016 national budget and the anti-dynasty bill.

The President also took exception to politicians  wanting to lift the term limits for president, an apparent dig at Vice President Jejomar Binay who has suggested it.

He likewise thanked lawmakers for the passage of the Philippine Competition Law, the measure allowing full entry of foreign banks, amendments to Cabotage Law, Sin Tax Reform Act and Responsible Parenthood Act.

Disappointed

The authors of the FOI bill expressed disappointment that the President did not mention the measure.

Parañaque City Rep. Gustavo Tambunting said Aquino would have gained more support from the public had he mentioned the FOI bill.

“I had expected him to push for the FOI bill since he was supposed to be for transparency in government,” Tambunting said.

Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo called on her colleagues to continue supporting and pushing for the FOI bill, saying it is in line with the President’s call for good governance.

“An FOI Law will ensure that the Philippines will have an accountable and transparent government years after our terms have expired,” she said.

The bill is awaiting sponsorship in plenary after it was approved by the House committee on public information late last year. It is a consolidation of over 20 measures.

“We are looking forward to the plenary debates on the bill which are certainly bound to be challenging,” Akbayan party-list Rep. Barry Gutierrez, also an author, said in a statement. – With Paolo Romero