The Senate is ramping up efforts to institutionalize transparency and accountability through Senate Bill No. 2880, the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act.
Sponsored by Senator Robinhood Padilla, chair of the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media, the measure consolidates various proposals to establish a legal framework ensuring public access to government-held information.
“Sa isang demokratikong pamayanan, wala pong boss kundi ang taumbayan. At bilang tagapaglingkod ng bayan, tungkulin nating tumugon sa mga tanong ng ating mga pinaglilingkuran. Sa panukalang batas po na ito, ang bawat Pilipino na humihingi ng impormasyon ay may karapatang mabigyan ng access sa mga tanggapan ng pamahalaan,” Padilla stressed.
Under SB 2880, all branches of government, including executive, legislative, and judicial offices, as well as local government units, state universities and colleges (SUCs), government-owned or controlled corporations (GOCCs), and other instrumentalities, are required to ensure public access to information.
The FOI Act contains provisions safeguarding sensitive information, such as those related to national security, trade secrets, and personal data, ensuring compliance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012.
It also incorporates anti-red tape measures to streamline bureaucratic processes, introduces penalties for violations, and offers rewards for compliance.
Moreover, the bill mandates the use of simple language and Filipino in disclosures to promote inclusivity.
Co-sponsor Senator Joel Villanueva described the FOI Act as critical for combating misinformation and fostering trust in public institutions.
“Information is power, and it must be accessible to everyone to uphold democratic ideals,” Villanueva said, citing international trends toward institutionalizing access to information laws.
Meanwhile, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, in an earlier media event, stressed the necessity of an effective FOI system and emphasized that transparency efforts must be anchored in ethical governance to achieve meaningful reforms.
He also noted that the similar measures were passed in the Senate in previous Congresses but failed in the House of Representatives.
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