Aquino’s SONA disappoints FOI advocates

July 24, 2012 Filed under Global Posted by Romy Cayabyab

President Benigno S. Aquino III is shown with Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr., before delivering his 3rd State of the Nation Address (SONA) during the Joint Session of the 15th Congress of the Philippines at the Plenary Hall, House of Representatives Complex, Constitution Hills in Quezon City on Monday (July 23). Photo: Robert Vinas / Malacañang Photo Bureau.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino III did not mention the Freedom of Information bill in his State of the Nation (SONA) address yesterday July 23.

Philippine and international groups, including this website, last week urged Mr Aquino to highlight the FOI bill in his address, and expressed disappointment he did not. The FOI bill was pending in the House of Representatives.

In its letter to the president, the Right to Know, Right Now! Coalition which campaigned for the passage of the FOI bill wrote that the Philippine government is… “required to adopt right to information legislation to give effect to its international and constitutional human rights obligations” adding that the passage of the FOI bill is “also a key practical step to address corruption, to enhance democracy and governance, and to foster the greater participation of all Filipinos in the process of national development.”

Global Filipinos Australia chair Lolita Farmer said: “Sad indeed no mention of FOI. The global Filipinos or Filipinos in diaspora criticised SONA for failure to mention FOI, which was a promise made in the election campaign and OFWs in particular.”

Members of a Facebook-based Filipino international forum posted comments also expressing their disappointments.

“A very disappointing day for civil society advocates and media that there was no mention of the FOI bill in yesterday’s SONA. It could have been the signal to “full speed” for Mr Aquino’s good governance and transparency initiatives.

“Very disappointing indeed. I was surprised that he would not have looked at that as one of his tools to ensure good governance.”

Freedom Info, an international advocacy group which has been monitoring trends and developments in freedom of information in various countries, in its news updates quoted the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines as saying that the Freedom of Information bill ‘remains in legislative limbo in a House so firmly in his (President Aquino’s) control’.

3 Responses to Aquino’s SONA disappoints FOI advocates

Violi

July 25, 2012 - 12:01 am

It is very disappointing to say the least that the President would not have appreciated the fact that most, if not all, developed countries with effective governance have a robust FOI in place.

I believe that the campaign to have this legislation implemented has to be continued and intensified.

elso cabangon

July 26, 2012 - 6:48 pm

The Right to Know Right Now coalition is meeting today to plot and plan our next moves. The FOI non-mention in SONA is disheartening indeed, but it should motivate us even more to work on the House of Representatives to get the committee report out for plenary debate. We have just written Speaker Belmonte to assert his leadership there. His opening address referred to the need to act on RH and FOI bills, and “let the chips fall where they may”.