Budget Secretary Pangandaman calls for passage of FOI bill in 20th Congress

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The Department of Budget and Management chief urges lawmakers to prioritize the bill as the country’s press freedom ranking improves

MANILA, Philippines – Department of Budget and Management Secretary Amenah Pangandaman called newly elected and incumbent lawmakers to prioritize the passage of a freedom of information (FOI) bill once the 20th Congress convenes in July of this year.

This comes after the Philippines’ ranking soared 18 places on the Reporters Without Borders’ (RSF) World Press Freedom Index. Every year, the RSF issues rankings and scores based on the freedoms enjoyed by journalists in 180 countries and territories.

In a DBM press release, Pangandaman stated the country’s “significant strides in championing the freedom of the press” had equated to “upholding the public’s constitutional right to information.”

However, while the Philippines received its highest press freedom ranking in 21 years, its overall press freedom score only increased by 6.2 points — indicating only a slight overall improvement in the state of press freedom. 

Among the red flags raised by RSF are the Philippine media’s struggles to access President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., which Asia-Pacific advocacy manager Aleksandra Bielakowska said has serious repercussions on transparency.

In its statement, the DBM noted the lack of an “enabling law that will truly uphold the people’s constitutional right to information.” 

In 2016, Rodrigo Duterte’s second executive order during his presidential term mandated full public disclosure of government offices, but only for the executive branch. Filipinos who have requested public data on the government’s electronic FOI portal have also run into issues accessing information or receiving timely responses from agencies.

Later in 2023, the Marcos Jr. administration introduced several restrictions on Duterte’s FOI provisions. Among the restrictions are records or information about any investigation conducted by the now-abolished Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission.

Senate Bill 2880 or the People’s Freedom of Information Act aims to mandate full public disclosure for all executive, legislative, judicial, and constitutional offices. The bill also aims to cover local governments, state universities and colleges, and government-owned or -controlled companies. The bill is currently pending second reading.

RSF also urged newly elected lawmakers in the Philippines to require digital platforms to “ensure that reliable sources of information are visible to the public and remunerated.”

Pangandaman’s Philippine Open Government Partnership initiative, in partnership with the Presidential Communications Office, has also conducted stakeholder consultations on FOI with representatives from government, civil society, the academe, and the private sector.

Most recently, Pangandaman was among the Cabinet members who retained their positions after Marcos called for courtesy resignations and other movements of various secretaries. – Rappler.com