Palace: Noy committed to passage of FOI bill

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang yesterday clarified that President Aquino remained committed to the passage of the proposed Freedom of Information Act (FOI), pointing out that it was included in the budget message for 2016 to make up for its absence in the State of the Nation Address (SONA) last Monday.

In his budget message, the President identified more priority measures, including the Public-Private Partnerships Act to sustain the PPP program beyond his term, and the Public Financial Accountability Act that would make budget reforms permanent.

The budget message accompanied Aquino’s proposed P3.002-trillion “continuity” national budget for 2016 submitted to the House of Representatives on Tuesday, in which he said an FOI law would ensure greater transparency for efficiency and accountability, especially in guarding lump sum funds.

“We firmly believe that greater fiscal transparency leads to a more responsive government. By reducing lump sum funds and presenting the spending plan in detailed programs and projects, we do not only reduce opportunities for corruption but also speed up the budget execution process. Through innovations such as the Transparency Seal, Open Data Philippines and the People’s Budget, our citizens understand the budget better and access information on government finances and operations faster,” Aquino said.

“By publishing performance information through the PIB and the regular budget reports, we also empower them to hold us accountable for the results of our actions. These policies continue to be embedded in the proposed budget for 2016,” he said.

To ensure the permanency of transparency policies, Aquino urged Congress to pass the FOI bill.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the FOI bill passed the committee level of the House headed by Misamis Occidental Rep. Jorge Almonte.

Lacierda said they were hoping the bill would start moving again and be passed as assured by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.

“It certainly would require some debates if there are people who have concerns with the FOI,” he said.

According to Lacierda, the President’s call for Congress to pass the FOI bill was not a day late because in terms of preparations for the budget message vis-à-vis the SONA, “the budget message of the President is equally if not more powerful than the (SONA), considering it is a message to the lawmaking branch of government.

“And so, it clearly shows the commitment of the President to institutionalizing transparency and accountability… The FOI advocates have never questioned the commitment of this administration to transparency and accountability,” Lacierda said.

“In fact, in our several engagements with FOI advocates, they have always said as much that ‘we do not question the commitment of President Aquino and his administration in pushing—in showing transparency in governance.’ Their concern is more on the next administration. So we have put forth, the President has put forth in his budget message to Congress his commitment to FOI,” he said.

Asked if the proposed measure would be certified as urgent by the President, Lacierda could not say but added the Malacañang version of the bill had been submitted.

“Again, it’s a question of perspective. Those who are familiar with the workings of government, those who are familiar with governance would certainly know – and in fact, one columnist said… the budget message is powerful, if not more powerful, than the State of the Nation Address. It comes with perspective,” Lacierda said.

“The basic issue is why was it missing? It’s there, maybe not just public, so it’s a question of perspective on where you’re coming from. But at the very least, the FOI advocates were very pleased,” he said.

The proposed FOI Act seeks to mandate the disclosure of public documents. It also outlines the exceptions for public disclosure and the procedures for accessing public documents.

The President was criticized when in his final SONA on Monday he did not mention the FOI bill on the list of measures that he wanted Congress to pass.

Senate and House leaders had earlier given assurance that the FOI bill was among six priority measures for the remainder of the 16th Congress.

Other urgent measures

Aquino also urged Congress to pass the PPP bill that will allow the administration to roll out big-ticket infrastructure projects – those that were beyond the agencies’ capabilities to implement – by tapping the resources and expertise of the private sector.

With the help of the PPP program, for instance, President Aquino said the Department of Education was able to narrow down the classroom backlog from 2010 to December 2013.

“At present, 10 PPP projects worth P189 billion have been awarded, while 13 more projects worth P518 billion are being bid out,” Aquino said.

“Compare this to the past three administrations, which implemented just six solicited PPP projects. To sustain the success of our PPP program and close the gaps in our policy regime, I ask Congress to pass the (PPP) Act,” the President said.

The PPP Center, the office that oversees and reviews projects under the Aquino administration’s flagship program, expects Congress to pass the PPP Act this year.

The proposal is actually an amendment to the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Law sponsored by Marikina Rep. Romero Quimbo and by Sen. Franklin Drilon.