On December 14, 2009, the Senate of the Philippines approved a Freedom of Information Act designed to allow access to key public documents, including those related to projects where corruption has been an issue. The Act, found in Senate Bill No. 3308, requires government agencies to allow public review and copying of all official information; officials who block public access are subject to a term of imprisonment of from one to six months. However, access to info can be denied intert alia when the information must be kept secret under executive order guidelines and when the data is related to internal and external defense or law enforcement and its public scrutiny would compromise anti-crime activities or put the safety of a protected source, witness, law enforcement or military officer, or family member of those officers in danger. More info here.
Filed under: Philippines
if benegno aquino III really sincere in saying that he will not corrupt, he must help in imposing the freedom of information act…
wrong spelling mo sa name ng president natin.. ahai..
Thank you for the information you uploaded. It is very useful for me.
Cordially,
Wisnu T Hanggoro
The penalty of one to six month has no deterrent effect. The proposed bill must have a proviso on: a) not subject to probation or commutation, b) higher fines say, 100,00 above, c) alternative action for torts and damages under the Civil Code, d) gradation of penalties in corrupt-ridden agencies, say in PNP, Customs, BIR — for 1st offense, say 1 to 2 years; for second offense, 2-years to 6 years; for 3rd offense, 6-12 years. Both persons, individual and juridical must be subjected to these penalty gradation. On third offense for juridical persons, the penalty imposed must be dismissal from service to violators. Accessory penalty clause must be provided to make direct supervisors liable. A lower penalty must be provided in case of non-graft/corrupt agencies. Pursuant to these a quarterly monitoring report must be done and a Book of Corrupt agencies must be made so that these proposed gradation penalties can apply. An Oversight committee per province must be established thru Executive Order giving this committee power to prosecute and champion causes or cases for info access. Seven members to include, 2 from the press, 1 from the academe, 1 from NGO, 1 from the religious sector, 1 from the IBP, and 1 from the Provl Peace and Order Council. . The executive secretariat must be given to any qualified mass media association or group.
it is important to impose the said bill so that citizens would be aware on whats happening on the government.