SEN. GUINGONA VOWS FULL SUPPORT FOR IMMEDIATE
PASSAGE OF FOI BILL
FOI BILL NECESSARY FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE REFORMS

Senator Teofisto "TG" Guingona III on Monday vowed to give full support for the urgent passage of the Freedom of Information bill sponsored by Sen. Gregorio Honasan at the Senate today.

Sen. Guingona's proposed version of the FOI bill is Senate Bill 158 and was filed as early as July 6, 2010.

A good governance advocate, Sen. Guingona believes that people can work with government for reforms and accountability only if they are armed with relevant information.

"If we want people to effectively participate in government, transparent and accessible information are vital. An FOI law is both a blessing and a challenge to good governance. If people have the right information, they must learn to use the same to contribute to nation-building," Sen. Guingona asserted.

Sen. Guingona's full support of the FOI law stems largely from his belief that access to information must not depend on the absolute discretion or even on the whims and caprices of heads of government agencies. He believes that an FOI law will pave the way for an institutionalized and government-wide policy on transparency and disclosure.

Sen. Guingona highlighted the importance of the ongoing impeachment trial to reiterate the significance of the passage of FOI.

"During this process, I have pointed out time and again that our people want access to the truth; that to deny them that access is a betrayal of an important aspiration. In clamoring for access to truth, our people have shown their stand that they have the right to know. And that the right to know is non-negotiable and cannot be frustrated by mere technicalities," he stressed.

He added that the Constitution has enshrined the people's participation in the government processes and the citizens have the right to know and be informed on the projects, programs and policies of the government, and how the elected and appointed officials spend the people's money.