The FOI Bill: A resurrection?

Many in the country, the baby boomers (born between 1946-64) and the Silent generation (1928-1945) will remember the FOI as one of the most discussed bills during the late 80's to early 2000's.

- FLORANGEL ROSARIO BRAID

Filed in 1987 as Bill 498 or Freedom of Information bill, it is an enabling law to uphold the constitutional right to information and was authored by the late Raul Roco who was then representative of Camarines Sur.

Every Congress since then has had senators and congressmen such as Sen. Grace Poe, then Rep. Leni Robredo and dozens of others who authored varying versions of the bill. In recent years, Senators Joel Villanueva, Loren Legarda, Robin Padilla, Bong Revilla, and then Senator Sonny Angara also authored bills on FOI. At the House, Quezon City Rep. Patrick Vargas and Parañaque City Rep. Gus Tambunting authored bills on FOI.

It was one of the favored legislation by non-government organizations, academics and other enlightened business organizations such as the Makati Business Club who believed that the public is entitled to full access to information. For several years, groups such as the one I belonged to, spent time organizing meetings and lobbying in both houses of Congress and other government offices. We marched with farmers, fisherfolk, laborers, and indigenous people groups, fellow academics and visited supporters in both the Senate and the House, Malacañang, held seminars, and used every communication tool we could think of in pushing for its passage. But its detractors, some in government and their partners in big business, felt that full transparency or disclosure of information would hinder graft and corruption practices.

Thus, despite the efforts of well-meaning senators and congressmen, the oppositors managed to dilute or water down some of the bills that were filed.