FOI bill gets Senate nod

THE Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading the People’s Freedom of Information (FOI) Act which aims to ease the public’s access to government records.

Under the Senate Bill No. 1432, all agencies under the three branches of the government are mandated to upload documents and transactions of public interest including their annual budget, itemized monthly collections and disbursement, summarized income and expenditures, and procurement contracts among others.

With 22 affirmative votes, the Senate passed the proposal which also expands Executive Order No. 2 issued by the previous administration which only covered the Executive branch.

The measure also provides for the annual disclosure of the statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs) of public officials.

Among the officials mandated by the bill for SALN disclosure are the President, Vice-President, Cabinet members, Congress members, Supreme Court justices, Constitutional Offices members, and the officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The FOI Act is among the measures identified by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council as a priority. — Kaela Patricia B. Gabriel