PROPONENTS OF THE Freedom of Information (FOI) bill are still hoping for a fastbreak for the long-delayed measure as Congress resumed session with only eight days to go before the chamber goes on an extended election break.
Deputy Speaker Erin Tanada, one of the principal authors of the bill, said Speaker Feliciano Belmonte had not expressed any apprehension or opposition over the measure in a meeting prior to the session. Tanada said the Speaker said the FOI’s fate would now depend on whether the bill’s proponents could muster a quorum when the bill comes to a vote. Tanada takes this to mean that the Speaker is in support of the measure that has remained stuck in Congress for the last 14 years.
In fact, Tanada said he is hoping that the measure could be passed on second reading by next week, with barely enough time for a third and final reading before Feb. 8, when Congress goes on extended break.
The Senate had passed its version of the FOI on third and final reading last year.
The House Rules Committee had committed to have the measure brought before the floor today through a sponsorship speech by House Public Information chairman Ben Evardone.
Rep. Walden Bello of the Akbayan Party-List says FOI proponents are confident that the measure has enough support on the floor. Bello pointed out that 117 legislators had signed a statement of support for the FOI late last year, when the measure was still stuck at the committee level. Bello says they are confident that the bill would still have the support of these same Congressmen.
However, Bello acknowledged that their cautious optimism is premised on the idea that no one tries to delay proceedings on the House floor through procedures or technicalities. With only eight days to go before the break, FOI advocates have been counting the days with a mixture of dread and realistic optimism.
Tanada said there are a few more potentially contentious issues that would likely be discussed and debated on in the session floor. These include the Right of Reply provision; provisions on exemptions due to national security concerns, executive privilege, and a proposal to include the private sector in the FOI.