Right to Information bill headed for House plenary as Poe underscores need for transparency

MANILA, Philippines – A lawmaker on Thursday expressed strong support for the proposed substitute bill on the Right to Information (RTI) during its deliberations before the Committee on Appropriations.

Rep. Brian Poe emphasized the urgent need to finally institutionalize transparency and public access to government information in the Philippines.

The substitute measure, which incorporates House Bill No. 1187 — the first bill filed by Poe in the current Congress — has now successfully passed both the Committee on Public Information and the Committee on Appropriations and is expected to reach the plenary in the coming weeks.

In his sponsorship speech, Poe stressed that transparency is essential to accountability and good governance, echoing the long-standing advocacy for freedom of information reforms in the country.

“As my mother, former Senator Grace Poe, once said, the Freedom of Information measure embodies the ‘Sunshine Principle’ — that unsealing government transactions to public scrutiny helps prevent abuse and corruption,” Poe said. 

“Today, I stand committed to carrying forward that same vision: that every Filipino deserves access to truthful, timely, and accessible information from their government.”

Poe also noted that the Senate has already passed its version of the proposed People’s Freedom of Information Act on third and final reading, signaling renewed momentum for one of the country’s longest-pending reform measures.

Rep. Brian Poe likewise appealed to the Committee on Appropriations to ensure sufficient funding for the implementation of the proposed law.

Despite decades of public clamor, the Philippines has yet to enact a consolidated national Freedom of Information law. Previous versions of the bill repeatedly stalled in Congress, including during the 14th Congress when the bicameral conference committee approved the measure in 2010 but the House failed to ratify the report due to lack of quorum before adjournment.

At present, public access to information in the executive branch is governed only by Executive Order No. 2, s. 2016, signed by former President Rodrigo Duterte, which applies solely to executive offices and does not carry the full force and permanence of a national law.

Poe thanked fellow lawmakers, civil society groups, media organizations and transparency advocates who have continued to push the measure forward through successive Congresses.

He likewise appealed to the Committee on Appropriations to ensure sufficient funding for the implementation of the proposed law, stressing that transparency depends on the government’s ability to efficiently provide accessible public information.

“Transparency only works when our institutions are equipped to deliver information efficiently, accessibly, and in a timely manner,” he said.

The proposed RTI measure seeks to institutionalize Filipinos’ constitutional right to access public information and strengthen accountability, transparency, and citizen participation in governance.

Poe ended his sponsorship by urging lawmakers to support the substitute bill and “finally make transparency the rule, not the exception.” (Contributed story)