Runners call for passage of Freedom of Information Law
By Cong B. Corrales
WITH LESS than two years remaining for the Aquino administration, 34,000 runners from around the country ran on October 4 to remind the President of a commitment he has yet to fulfill: the passage of the Freedom of Information Act (FOI).
The event, dubbed the “Tanglaw Run for FOI,” was organized by the Federation of Alumni Associations in PUP, Inc. (FEDAAPI) in cooperation with the Right to Know. Right Now! Coalition. Runners for the Manila 5-kilometer run assembled at the Quirino Grandstand for a short program at 4:30 a.m. before the start of the run at 5:30 am.
The Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) mobilized its alumni, faculty and students, as part of the PUP community’s contribution to the escalation of the people’s demand for President Aquino, and for the House of Representatives to accord the FOI bill the same attention as other crucial pieces of legislation like the Bangsamoro Basic Law.
The fun run took place as the FOI campaign pushes for the adoption by the House Committee on Public Information of the consolidated bill recently approved by the committee’s technical working group.
Tanglaw Run for FOI also turned over to the Right to Know. Right Now! Coalition more than 40,000 signatures to the letter addressed to President Aquino and Speaker Belmonte calling for their decisive action on FOI. This will be added to the almost 40,000 signatures submitted by the coalition to Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda in July.
The coalition will be seeking an audience with Speaker Belmonte when Congress resumes session on October 20, this year.