Aug. 15 is Freedom of Information (FOI) Day, declared by press and broadcast associations such as the Philippine Press Institute, the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas, national and community news organizations.
The 1987 Constitution enshrined state policies of full transparency and accountability in the conduct of all public officials and employees, and of full public disclosure of information vested with public interest.
The Constitution upheld the people’s right to know and be informed about all policies, projects, and programs of government that involve the use of taxpayers’ money.
Why should the citizens have the right to know? Most people agree that if the government passed the FOI bill years ago, the PDAF, DAP, and Palparan’s offenses would have been subjected to public scrutiny, thus, it could have been stopped before it even started.
By not passing FOI up to this time in 2014, when the son of democracy icon Corazon Aquino is President, some people are taking a dim view of where our democracy is heading.
It is said ”that all forms of evil thrive in the dark, like a moss, it is only when light is shone on it, that it dies.”
Who can shine the light to this dark practices of some government officials and agencies?
It is the Fourth Estate, the press in all forms, print, radio, television and the internet.
It is the constitutional right of the people to know and be informed of the affairs of the state especially when it comes to spending public funds. This constitutional right is evident in many laws enacted to ensure transparency such as the Local Government Code, Commission on Audit Guidelines, Department of Finance Circulars, Department of Budget & Management Procedures. etc.
There are many laws, but the FOI is urgently needed to make all public records available to any citizen interested to know, as it is the right and duty of each citizen to monitor how the State conducts itself in governmental matters.
On the local level, our Sangguniang Panlalawigan is seeking information about the “names, job descriptions, assignments of Job Order employees” of the Provincial Government, in support of a supplemental budget which needs an approval.
This inquiry is provided by the Local government Code, and must be followed, otherwise, there are corresponding liabilities of those who refuse to fulfill their public duty.
It is imperative that the people need, and must know how public officials exercise their powers and authorities, how they spend public funds, what contracts and agreements they sign and seal on our behalf, what policy issues bother them that must also bother us, so we may participate in making decisions.
It is the right of people to be informed of the delivery of the most basic services, its policies and programs, how to avail of such services, as well as public documents which address basic needs such as rights to education, health, safety, property, livelihood, even life.
Government should pass the FOI Bill now!
________________________________
Author’s email: whelmayap@yahoo.com
