Poe to still push FOI bill, emergency powers despite delays

MANILA, Philippines— Sen. Grace Poe on Wednesday said she is eyeing a review of the Freedom of Information bill and the proposed emergency powers for the president.

As chair of both Senate Public Information and Mass Media committee and Public Services committee, Poe said passage of the proposals have been delayed because the 17th Congress prioritized other bills.

“Ang daming priority measures na inuuna, tulad ng tax measures. Ngayon, nasa second reading pa lang tayo ng FOI and it is a concern,” Poe said at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay.

She added that the extension of the validity of driver’s licenses and passports were the first measures passed by the Senate.

Poe filed the FOI Bill or Senate Bill No. 159 in August 2016. It is “an act implementing the people's right to information and the constitutional policies of full public disclosure and honesty in the public service and for other purposes.” 

FOI lacks penalty measure

The senator stressed that the absence of penalties for those who disobey the FOI bill, which covers government officials, is also a concern.

“Ito yung pangamba ko… PCOO (Presidential Communications Operations Office) is very cooperative with their campaign on FOI. However, other agencies choose not to comply... pero walang penalty. Kung hindi ko sundin, anong gagawin ninyo sa’kin? Dapat patas,” Poe said. 

The senator may have been referring to the executive order on FOI, which the president has signed. The EO only covers the executive branch.

For Poe, government officials should also face the same charges that will be applied when they violate the FOI bill.

“Dapat may katumbas na parusa para matakot talaga kami na hindi magbigay ng impormasyon. Sana naman kapag, nag-convene kami, maisama na rin itong FOI sa priority nila,” she said.’

‘Emergency powers should be passed immediately’

Due to the delay in priority measures, Poe also expressed her support for granting emergency powers to President Rodrigo Duterte.

“There is a lot in our law that delays initiatives of offices,” Poe said.

“For example, through emergency powers, mabibigyan agad ‘yong mga informal settlers ng mandate para makalipat sila. Hindi na kailangan dumaan sa mahabang proseso in a way na mabibinbin din ‘yong mga proyekto,” she added.

On Dec. 14, 2016, Poe endorsed the proposed emergency powers bill to address the country’s transportation issues before the Senate in plenary.

Poe sponsored Senate Bill 1284 or “An Act Compelling the Government to Address the Transportation and Congestion Crisis Through the Grant of Emergency Powers to the President.”

However, in January, the House Transportation committee led by Catanduanes Rep. Cesar Sarmiento approved a measure granting Duterte “special powers” through House Bill 4334 instead of emergency powers. The House bill is “an urgent, immediate, and comprehensive response to the traffic crisis that is prevalent in the Metropolitan Manila Area, Metropolitan Cebu, and Metropolitan Davao."

Despite this, Poe said there is still a need for emergency powers. She said local governments should be under one traffic czar.

Poe shared that she previously discussed the issue of emergency powers with Duterte but he did not specify why he needed the measure. —With reports from Rosette Adel