Why can't Congress pass the Freedom of Information Bill?

Philippines
November 14, 2012 2:59am CST
In 2010, i though the aquino administration is pro-transparency, pro-tuwid na daan. and 2 years after being, the president still has not expressed full support to pass the freedom of information bill. i believe he promised to act on this during the presidential elections. chief justice corona's impeachment was quite fast because the president basically controlled the congress. why can't he do this with the FOI bill? maybe he's not really interested on the passing of this law. is there anything to hide?
5 responses
• Philippines
16 Nov 12
because there are personal interests that must be consider, before they go through with it.
• Philippines
16 Nov 12
I think your right that, PNOY is not really interested in passing it, coz if he really wants it, it will be done. take the corona case for instance, he wanted it, his cohorts shows up in congress faster than the opposition can say "I object" hehehehe. Truth be told, this administration is not free from conspicuous transactions and overpricing of government contracts, that is why, this bill has absolutely 0 percent chance of being passed in congress
@cttolledo (5462)
• Legaspi, Philippines
16 Nov 12
Hey! i think PNOY has nothing to do with this... it is "BILL" right.. it's a job of Congress to initiate this bill not by the president.. (Sorry.. just my opinion ...!)
• Philippines
16 Nov 12
PNOY can influence the members of the liberal party (i believe they are the majority in congress) to help push the FOI bill if he wants to. he is the president of the party after all. he didn't even mention it in the last SONA.
@romzee (937)
• Philippines
16 Nov 12
"Tuwid na daan"? What does this word means to you? This is just some catchy words to play with Pinoy imaginations... It's just a slogan like "Erap para sa mahirap"! Period! Basically and sadly, your observation is right! The president is not really interested on passing this FOI bill into law. To kristian2012 the president has all the power to influence the outcome of this bill (read my explanation below). To cttolledo sorry to say your opinion is wrong. Much of the legislation dealt with by Congress is drafted at the initiative of the executive branch. Every year, the president lays out his legislative agenda for the next year, outlining his priorities for both Congress and the nation at large. To get his legislative agenda passed by Congress, the president will often ask a specific lawmaker to sponsor bills and lobby other members for passage. Members of the president's staff, such as the vice president, all his department secretaries concern also will lobby representatives to try to garner support for the legislation. The president can also mark any bill as urgent. To xtianadam, I think your observation deserve a credit. All issues you mention is a fact that yellow people always want to discredit. The fact is Pnoy can anytime he pleases can command(not ask) his cohort in congress to pass any bill he wanted to. LetranKnight25, That is really the problem of Philippines politics! We keep on voting and putting the worst candidates in government offices. And then wonder, what's going on with our nation. FOI, and anti dynasty bill are the path to people empowerment that this administration should have mark as urgent if it is truly are for political reforms. Sad to say his actions proves otherwise! Have a nice evening. Ciao!
• Philippines
17 Nov 12
I could have not said it any better romzee, you are definitely right, the game has not change, only the players, its just that the players wants to make us believe that they are playing a totally different ball game. and majority of the filipino people fall for this charade.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
14 Nov 12
Hello Iluvusabado, I don't think that's the problem. the congress is filled with powerful and influencial but corrupt and doesn't want their expenses to be known to the public. because if we did find their transactions illegal, they will never win another election ever. Another thing is that we kept voting for the wrong people. not approving the Freedom of Information bill proves corruption exist in the legislature dept.
@asliah (11137)
• Philippines
29 Dec 12
hi, the administration should pass the freedom of information bill so that all people will be aware behind of that,so people also will have an idea where the taxes we pay will go,maybe our President will do this matter step by step and not also easy for him to decide about it.
14 Nov 12
the Freedom of Information Bill should be passed. for whatever reasons, i don't know why the president doesn't act on this. but for us, it is very important to know the SALN of government agencies. there should always be transparency as regards the government funds. what's the role of the president in so far as passing bills is concerned?
• Philippines
14 Nov 12
it is the duty of the congress to pass bills and the executive branch will make sure it's implemented. i believe the president has the power to influence congressmen under his party (which are the majority i believe) to pass the FOI if he really wants it to happen. remember the corona impeachment, according to cong. toby tiangco some or most of the congressmen signed the resolution even without reading the whole articles of impeachment. i believe PNOY can do the same if he has the political will to pass the bill.