POE: ONE FINAL HEARING ON FOI BILL

Sen. Grace Poe, chair of the Senate committee on public information and mass media, announced that her committee will conduct its second and last hearing on the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill within this month, after holding its first hearing today (Sept. 4).

"We will have one more hearing where we expect to hear the views of media organizations, civil society, and other key stakeholders," Poe said. "We will review all positions and come up with a committee report by October, enshrining public interest and welfare," the senator stressed, "With the support of majority of my fellow senators and a very strong public clamor, I am confident that the bill will be finally passed this 16th Congress."

At the hearing, Poe cited, "Kung maipapasa natin ngayon ang FOI, ang ating bansa ay mapapabilang sa hanay ng 93 na bansa sa buong mundo na may kaukulang batas tungkol sa Freedom of Information. May halos 50 bansa naman ang kasalukuyang nagsasaayos ng kanilang FOI," Poe said.

Poe stressed that the measure is a full recognition of the Constitution's Bill of Rights which states, "The right of the people to information on matters of public concern shall be recognized. Access to official records, and to documents pertaining to official acts, transactions or decisions, as well as to government research data used as basis for policy development, shall be afforded the citizen, subject to such limitations as may be provided by law."