12 July 2012His Excellency
BENIGNO S. AQUINO III
President of the PhilippinesMalacañan PalaceManilaThru:
Hon. Manuel L. Quezon III
UndersecretaryPresidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office
Subject:
Passage of the Freedom of Information Act
Dear Mr. President:
We are members of the
Right to Know, Right Now! Coalition
,
a broadnetwork of organizations and individuals from various social sectors and publicinterest groups that have long been campaigning for the passage of the Freedomof Information (FOI) Act.We have welcomed your endorsement in January this year of the FOI bill,with amendments to address a number of concerns that you have previouslyraised. We regard your endorsement as an affirmation of your administration’scommitment to transparency, accountability, and good governance. Indeed, youhave staked political capital to stand on the side of transparency on many criticalissues, including on the obligation of government officials especially at thehighest levels to disclose their Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth tothe public.The question is whether the path towards higher norms of governance thatyou espouse can be institutionalized through a truly transformed culture in publicservice. It is this challenge that makes the passage of the FOI Act indispensable.It will make transparency the mandatory norm rather than a mere discretion and
For communications please contact:
Atty. Nepomuceno MalaluanInstitute for Freedom of Information, Unit 1403 West Trade Center, 132 West Avenue, Quezon CityTelefax: +63 2 426 5626 Email: nepo_m@yahoo.com
an unevenly implemented policy for government. It could well serve as the solidfoundation for "
daang matuwid
", to carry on to succeeding administrations.Unfortunately, despite your earlier endorsement of an amended FOI bill,its passage remains uncertain. While it is getting a determined push in theSenate, it remains stuck at the House Committee on Public Information. Giventhe reality that the time available to pass this measure is fast closing on the 15thCongress, a decisive push from you will be necessary for the FOI law to finallypass. As part of this decisive push, we earnestly appeal for a reiteration andamplification of your support for the immediate passage of the FOI law in your upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA). Such reaffirmation will signalyour administration's political will on FOI, and contribute substantially tomotivating the House leadership and the House committee to take action andpave the way for the passage of the Freedom of Information Act before end2012.The 2013 elections will in part be a referendum on how your administration, midway in its term, has been keeping to your mandate of changeand to your marching orders to transform our government. The fight is not over.We look to your leadership in the passage of the Freedom of Information Act.We await with anticipation the inclusion of FOI in your SONA.Very truly yours,
Right to Know. Right Now!CoalitionSIGNED:
1.Atty. Nepomuceno Malaluan
Co-Director, Institute for Freedom of Information andCo-Convenor, Right to Know, Right Now! Coalition
2.Mr. Vincent Lazatin
Executive Director, Transparency and Accountability Network
3.Ms. Malou Mangahas
Executive Director, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism
4.
Bishop Broderick S. Pabillo, DD
Chairman, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines - National Secretariat for Social Action-Justice and Peace (CBCP-NASSA)
5.Ms. Annie Geron
General Secretary, Public Services Labor Independent Confederation (PSLINK)
2
6.Mr. Peter Angelo Perfecto
Executive Director, Makati Business Club
7.Mr. Joshua Mata
Secretary General, Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL)
8.Mr. Filomeno S. Sta. Ana III
Coordinator, Action for Economic Reforms
9.Atty. Roberto Eugenio T. Cadiz
Executive Director, Libertás
10.
Mr. Ramon R. Tuazon,
President
Dr. Florangel Rosario-Braid
, President Emeritus & Senior Adviser
Ms. Madeline B. Quiamco
, Dean Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication
11.Ms. Rowena Carranza-Paraan
Secretary General, National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP)
12.
Mr. Red Batario,
Executive Director
Ms. G. Sevilla Alvarez,
Program Director
Ms. Rorie Fajardo
Center for Community Journalism and Development
13.Ms. Yuen Abana
Campaign Coordinator, Partido ng Manggagawa
14.
Atty Eirene Jhone Aguila
FOI and New Politics Advocate
15. Ms. Clarissa V. Militante
Coordinator, Focus on the Global South, Philippines Programme
16.Dr. Edna Estifania A. Co
Dean, UPNational College of Public Administration and Governance
17.
Mr. Isagani R. Serrano
President, Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement
18.
Mr. Jun Aguilar Mr. Elso Cabangon
Filipino Migrant Workers Group
19.
Ms. Melinda Quintos De Jesus
Executive Director, Center for Media Freedom and Resposnibility
20.Mr. Sixto Donato C. Macasaet
Executive Director, Caucus of Development NGO Networks (CODE-NGO)
21.Ms. Ana Maria R. Nemenzo
National Coordinator, WomanHealth Philippines
3
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Letter to President Aquino: Passage of the Freedom of Information Act
a letter to the President and a press statement that the Coalition members delivered yesterday at a meeting in Malacanang with Press Undersecretary Manuel "Manolo" L. Quezon III.
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