House oks bill giving people right to access of information

[karira]

As reported in philstar.com on 17 March 2008:
Philippine Star - Articles - -

House oks bill giving people right to access of information

The House of Representatives has approved on third reading the measure that seeks to strengthen the Constitutionally-guaranteed right to information, particularly on matters of public concern.

“The people's right to know is sacred. We just passed the enabling legislation giving life to the constitutionally mandated right of access to information which also promotes people empowerment,” Speaker Prospero Nograles said.

According to Nograles, House Bill 3732, entitled “An Act implementing the Right of Access to information on matters of public concern,” provides the “legal mechanism” that gives people the right to obtain information from government agencies – executive, legislative, judiciary.

The bill’s main proponents are Manila Rep. Bienvenido M. Abante, Jr. and Quezon Rep. Lorenzo Tañada III.

In a statement, Nograles expressed confidence that the House-approved bill will be “among the priorities of the Senate because we all believe in the principle that the constitutional powers of government emanates from the people.”

Abante and Tañada said the proposed law will ease the burden of the general public in obtaining information from all government offices. “It will compel all government offices into complying with the requests for information,” they said.

HB 3732 covers all government offices in the executive, legislative and judiciary, including local government, GOCCs, GFIs, SUCs, Constitutional Commissions and other offices created by the Constitution.--Delon Porcalla