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Freedom of Information Stories and Blog Posts

LIST OF STORIES/BLOGS ON THE FOI ACT, May 31 to June 3, 2010

Palace optimistic on ratification of Freedom of Information Act
By Aurea Calica (The Philippine Star) Updated June 03, 2010 12:00 AM
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=580922&publicationSubCategoryId=63

Human Face
D-Day for FOIA
By Ma. Ceres P. Doyo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 04:35:00 06/03/2010
http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view/20100603-273544/D-Day-for-FOIA

At Large
Freedom of Information now!
By Rina Jimenez-David
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 23:01:00 05/29/2010
http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view/20100529-272812/Freedom-of-Information-now

Quorum lack imperils information bill
The Manila Times, Wednesday, 02 June 2010 00:00
BY JOMAR CANLAS Reporter
http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/top-stories/18639-quorum-lack-imperils-information-bill

3 panukalang batas ihahabol na ipasa sa Kamara
GMANews.T, 06/02/2010 | 11:41 PM
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/192500/3-panukalang-batas-ihahabol-na-ipasa-sa-kamara

‘It will only take two minutes to pass The Freedom of Information Act’
GMANews.TV, 05/31/2010 | 10:30 AM
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/192271/39it-will-only-take-two-minutes-to-pass-the-freedom-of-information-act39

Last chance for Freedom of Info Act on Friday
Newsbreak, Written by Carmela Fonbuena
Monday, 31 May 2010
http://newsbreak.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7891&Itemid=88889051

Senate calls on House to ratify Freedom of Information Act
By HANNAH L. TORREGOZA
Manila Bulletin, May 31, 2010, 5:43pm
http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/259971/senate-calls-house-ratify-freedom-information-act

Freedom of Information will make everyone’s lives so much easier
Philippine Online Chronicles/BlogWatch, Wednesday, 02 June 2010 12:00 AM Niña Terol-Zialcita
http://www.thepoc.net/commentaries/7324-freedom-of-information-will-make-everyones-lives-so-much-easier.html

Palace supports FOI
POC/Blog Watch, Wednesday, 02 June 2010 02:30 PM Merck Maguddayao
http://www.thepoc.net/breaking-news/media/7329-palace-supports-foi-spokesperson.html

FOI Act still in limbo
POC/Blog Watch, Monday, 31 May 2010 07:00 PM Merck Maguddayao
http://www.thepoc.net/breaking-news/media/7279-foi-act-still-in-limbo.html

Freedom of Information: Antidote to postmodern tyranny
POC/Blog WatchMonday, 31 May 2010 02:05 PM Caffeinesparks
http://www.thepoc.net/commentaries/7267-freedom-of-information-antidote-to-postmodern-tyranny.html

EDITORIAL: Removing the veil (with an editorial cartoon by Zeus Agustin)
POC, Monday, 31 May 2010 01:30 PM
http://www.thepoc.net/breaking-news/media/7263-editorial-removing-the-veil.html

CBCP holds nationwide mass for FOI Act
POC, Monday, 31 May 2010 11:30 AM Merck Maguddayao
http://www.thepoc.net/breaking-news/media/7258-cbcp-holds-nationwide-mass-for-foi-act.html

Posted 1 year ago by angelicmom

Tags: FOI bill, freedom of information, freedom of information bill,
Will Nograles & his House ratify the FOI Bill?

LEGACY OR IGNOMINY:

WILL SPEAKER NOGRALES AND HIS HOUSE RATIFY

THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION BILL?

by

The Right to Know. Right Now! Coalition

4 June 2010

      When the leaders of the House of Representatives want a measure passed, we have seen them find a way. But when they want a measure aborted, they simply stay away and quibble about the absence of quorum.

      For 14 years, the 160 member-organizations of the Right to Know. Right Now! Coalition have waged, separately and together, an advocacy campaign for the passage of the Freedom of Information Act. We have done so in good faith, in the most positive and trustful manner, and with all due respect to the members of Congress who swore to serve the people, by the Constitution and the laws of the land.

      Even now, we thank Speaker Prospero Nograles Jr., the legislators who authored and passed the Freedom of Information Act, and all the members of the 14^th Congress, for taking the bill to its farthest, an accomplishment that previous Congresses had all failed to achieve.

      Today, the Freedom of Information Act hangs on the precipice, and the leaders of the House, on the threshold of either making history or being cast aside to its dustbin.

      In the last two weeks, the people have been offered promise after promise to ratify the Fredom of Information Act.
- - On February 2, 2010, copies of the Bicameral Conference Committee Report on the FOI scheduled for distribution to the House members suddenly went missing at the session hall.
  - On February 3, the House Floorleader, after moving to defer the calling of the roll, proceeded to secure the House members’ concurrence vote for no less than 15 Senate bills, and one conference committee report. However, the FOI conference committee report was conveniently left out. A congressman who sought a copy of the FOI Act was told by House officials that the instruction from the office of the House Secretary General was to “hold distribution” of the copies that day, the last day before the Congress adjourned for the election campaign season.
  - On May 24, the House leadership implored proponents of the bill to withdraw their motion to ratify the conference committee report after the Speaker and the Majority and Minority leaders declared their commitment to enroll it on the agenda of the House on May 31.
  - But on May 31, Speaker Nograles opened the session and the Majority Floorleader moved to suspend session until June 4, for the closing of the 14^th Congress. In 10 seconds flat, they opened and closed the session, ignoring motions from proponents of the bill to ratify the FOI Act. The proponents led by Manila Rep. Bienvenido M. Abante Jr., chair of the House committee on public information, had wanted to raise a point of order but the House leaders simply ignored them. In truth, the proponents were muzzled and gagged – the microphones on the floor were turned off.
      The fate of the Freedom of Information Act is in peril of being hostage to the whims and fancies of the House leadership. In media interviews, Speaker Nograles has declared that the FOI Act – or what he calls “the foie gras bill” that he, in fact, co-authored – remains “my priority” and that the House will take it up today, supposedly the last session day of the 14^thCongress.

      Today, the truth or falsity of his avowed commitment to ratify the Freedom of Information Act, will be known. He can yet prove skeptics wrong.

      If the Speaker chooses not to live up to his commitment, the Freedom of Information Act dies today; if he proves true to his words, it will live and be ratified, at last.

      And well it should. The right to know is an inalienable right of the people that has been firmly guaranteed by the Constitution since 23 years ago. Enshrined in the Bill of Right, it is indispensable to the exercise of the right of the people and their organizations to effective and reasonable participation at all levels of social, economic and political decision-making.

      The Freedom of Information Act fills the legal gaps that have made our constitutional right to information practically inoperable. It provides standard and definite procedures in dealing with requests for information. It clearly defines a narrow list of exceptions, carefully balancing the public interest in securing the widest availability of information while recognizing the public interest in withholding certain information identified in the bill. It secures for citizens concurrent remedies in cases of denial of access to information.

      Where a denial is illegal, the citizen concerned may also file the appropriate criminal or administrative complaint. It provides for the public disclosure, without need of request from anyone, of important government transactions. It introduces numerous mechanisms for the active promotion of openness in government.

      The Filipino people need and truly deserve this law. It is a demand of the times, a vote for transparency, democratic participation, accountability and good governance. It will empower both the people and their leaders to plant the seeds of strategic governance reforms and start the process of renewal for Philippine institutions.

      We take this opportunity to thank Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Juan Miguel Zubiri for shepherding the bill through the tedious legislative process in the Senate.

      We express most especially our gratitude and salute to Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile for leading the Senators in completing the necessary Senate actions for the passage of the Freedom of Information Act. The Senate was in turmoil at the time when the session was about to adjourn in February, yet still it managed to fulfill its legislative commitments.

      Last May 31, the Senate passed a resolution urging the House of Representatives to act on the FOI Act conference committee report before the 14^th Congress adjourns sine die. This is clear testimony to the leadership of Senate President Enrile and the sense of duty to people and country of our Senators.

      Today, we ask that Speaker Nograles and the House members show proof that they measure up to the same standards. Indeed today, by their choices they will be judged. And they have only two: Legacy or Ignominy.

      They have now a historic opportunity to fulfill their constitutional duty to provide an essential law that will secure for the nation the full functioning of their constituents’ right to information.

      Recognizing that the duty of the state to enforce a policy of full disclosure of all its transactions involving public interest is the hallmark of good governance, there are already more than 80 governments around the world that have adopted a Freedom of Information Act. The passage today of the Freedom of Information Act would be a testament to our maturity as a nation, which is vaunted to be the exemplar of democracy in Asia.

      The people of the Philippines are claiming their constitutional right to access to information on matters of public concern. The bicameral conference committee has reconciled the House and Senate versions of the FOI bill. There should be no obstacle to ratifying this bill.

      Today, Speaker Nograles and his House will face the judgment of history. Will they be judged as a Congress with a legacy of honor or of ignominy?

      In truth, for reasons other than the public interest, they can delay the Freedom of Information Act but not ever defeat it. The people’s right to know springs forth from our democracy; it will endure.

      Right to Know. Right Now!

SIGNATORIES:
1. Bishop Broderick Pabillo Auxillary Bishop, Manila; National Director of CBCP-National Secretariat for Social Action Justice&Peace (NASSA-JP)
2. Atty. Wigberto Tañada Senator, 1987-1995
3. Dr. Wilfrido V. Villacorta Member, 1986 Constitutional Commission; Author of Right to Information on Matters of Public Concern (Art. III, Sec.7, 1987 Constitution)
4. Dr. Florangel Rosario - Braid Member, 1986 Constitutional Commission and Chair, Communication, UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines
5. Mr. Vincent T. Lazatin Transparency and Accountability Network
6. Ms. Malou Mangahas Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism
7. Ms. Adelina Alvarez Center for Community Journalism and Development
Mr. Red Batario
1. Atty. Roberto Cadiz LIBERTAS
2. Prof. Luis Teodoro Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility
3. Ms. Jenina Joy Chavez Focus on the Global South – Philippines Programme
4. Mr. Sonny Fernandez National Union of Journalists of the Philippines
Mr. Nestor Burgos

Ms. Rowena Paraan
1. Mr. Alberto Lim Makati Business Club
2. Ms. Teresita Ang See Citizens Action Against Crime
3. Mr. Joshua Mata Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL)
4. Ms. Yuen Abana Partido ng Mangagawa
5. Ms. Precy Bellomes Makabayan
6. Mr. Teody Navea Bukluran ng Mangagawang Pilipino (BMP)
Mr. Gem de Guzman
1. Atty. Byron Bocar Akbayan
2. Ms. Judy Pasimio Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center - Kasama sa Kalikasan
3. Ms. Starjoan Villanueva Alternate Forum for Research in Mindanao (AFRIM)
4. Dean Antonio La Viña Ateneo School of Government (ASoG)
5. Dr. Sixto K. Roxas Maximo T. Kalaw Institute for Sustainable Development
6. Mr. Isagani Serrano Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement
7. Mr. Joseph Purugganan EU-ASEAN FTA Campaign Network-Philippines; Stop the New Round Coalition
8. Mr. Al Alegre Foundation for Media Alternatives (FMA)
9. Ms. Annie Geron Public Services Labor Independent Confederation (PSLINK)
10. Prof. Leonor M. Briones Social Watch Philippines
11. Dr. Rene Ofreneo Center for Labor Justice
12. Dr. J. Prospero De Vera III National College of Public Administration and Governance
13. Atty. Tanya Lat IDEALS
14. Mr. Raul Socrates Banzuela PAKISAMA
15. Chester Amparo Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya (KPD)
16. Mr. Pete Pinlac Mangagawa para sa Kalayaan ng Bayan (MAKABAYAN)
17. Mr. Ramon Tuazon Philippines Communication Society
18. Ms. Mae V. Buenaventura Women’s Legal Bureau, Inc.
19. Ms. Ana Maria R. Nemenzo WomanHealth Philippines
20. Ms. Mercedes Fabros WomanHealth Philippines
21. Mr. Sixto Donato Macasaet CODE-NGO
22. Mr. Jun S. Aguilar Filipino Migrant Workers
23. Mr. Pablo Rosales Progresibong Alyansa ng mga Mangingisda (PANGISDA); Pambansang Katipunan ng Makabayang Magbubukid (PKMM)
24. Mr. Crispino Aguelo Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka (PAKISAMA)
25. Ms. Karen Tañada Gaston Z. Ortigas Peace Institute
26. Atty.Eirene Jhone E. Aguila Team RP
27. Prof. Gigi Francisco Development Alternatives for Women in the New Era (DAWN)
28. Mr. Byron Abadeza Affiliated Network for Social Accountability in East Asia and the Pacific
29. Mr. Abby Y. Pato Task Force on Food Sovereignty Mindanao
30. Ms. Carolyn Arguillas MindaNews
31. Mr. Abner Francisco DXCA – FM
32. Mr. Rey Hulog Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas
33. Mr. Jose Pavia Philippine Press Institute
34. Ms. Angelica Simone Mangahas Ateneo Debate Society
35. Mr. Bartholome Guingona pagbabago@pilipinas
36. Atty. Virginia S. Jose Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC)
37. Ms. Ellene Sana Center for Migrant Advocacy (CMA)
38. Ms. Ester Perez Tagle Concerned Citizens Against Pollution (COCAP)
39. Ms. Luz Malihiran Community Organizers Multiversity
40. Mr. Milo Tanchuling Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC)
41. Mr. Jude Esguerra Institute for Popular Democracy (IPD)
42. Mr. Doy Cinco Institute for Popular Democracy (IPD)
43. Mr. Ric Serrano La Liga Policy Institute
Mr. Roland Cabigas
1. Mr. Rey Rasing Labor Education and Research Network (LEARN)
2. Atty. Farah Marie Decano Lady Local Legislators’ League of the Philippines, Inc.
3. Mr. Raymond Marvic Baguilat UP Law Student Government
4. Mr. Ed Mora Pambansang Kaisahan ng Magbubukid sa Pilipinas
5. Prof. Carlos Magtolis, Jr. Siliman University – ASPAP
6. Ms. Evi-Ta Jimenez Center for People Empowerment in Governance
7. Mr. Ben-Hur Sacopla Southern Luzon State University ASPAP – Region IV
8. Dr. Buenaventura B. Dargantes Program on Integrated Water Resources
9. Mr. Boy Nuera Pandayan para sa Sosyalistang Pilipinas (PANDAYAN)
10. Mr. Roy Calfoforo People’s Alternative Studies Center for Research and Education in Social Develoment (PASCRES)
11. Mr. Alain Pascua Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan All Filipino Democratic Movement (KAAKBAY)
12. Mr. Reggie Guillen GCAP-Phils
13. Mr. Horacio T. Cadiz The Philippine Network Foundation, Inc (PHNET)
14. Mr. Joe Valencia KASAPI-HELLAS
15. Mr. Nestor Villanueva Akbayan Greece
16. Ms. Mardi Mapa-Suplido Negros Peace Watch
17. Dr. Jose Reuben Alagaran Philippines Communication Society
18. Ms. Aurora Regalado Management Organization for Development and Empowerment
19. Mr. Ernesto Lim Jr. People’s Campaign on Agrarian Reform (AR NOW!)
20. Mr. Anthony Marzan KAISAHAN
21. Mr. Nonoy Oplas Minimal Government Thinkers
22. Mr. Jesus Vicente Garganera Alyansa Tigil Mina
23. Ms. Luz Cabucos-Fegarido RSW
24. Ms. Ma. Lourdes M. Tison Paghiliusa sa Paghidaet-Negros (PsPN)
25. Ms. Trinidad Domingo Pambansang Koalisyon ng Kababaihan sa Kanayunan
26. Mr. Richard Gutierrez Ban Toxics
27. Mr. Harvey Keh Kaya Natin! Movement
28. Mr. Czarina Sacaguing Confederation of Student Government in the Philippines
29. Dr. Ma. Olivia Domingo Center for Leadership, Citizenship and Democracy, UP NCPAG
30. Dr. Angelo Ramos Philippine Community e-Center Network
31. Ms. Mae Sabio Sulong CARPER
32. Mr. Diosdado Calmada PEACE
33. Ms. Lanie Factor Task Force Mapalad
34. Ms. Maris Dela Cruz - Cardenas EmPOWER Consumers
35. Atty. Elpidio Peria Third World Network; Vice Chairman, Social Concerns Committee, IBP South Cotabato – General Santos City
36. Mr. Angelito R. Mendoza Coalition for Health Advocacy and Transparency
37. Mr. Omi Royandoyan Centro Saka
38. Ms. Florencia Casanova-Dorotan Women’s Action Network for Development
39. Ms. Violeta Corral Aksyon para sa Kapayapaan at Katarungan
40. Ms. Michelle Domocol Visayas Climate Action Network
41. Judge Dolores L. Español (Ret.) Transparency International – Philippines
42. Mr. Roby Alampay Southeast Asian Press Alliance
43. Ms. Teresita Quintos Deles International Center on Innovation, Transformation and Excellence in Governance (INCITEGov)
44. Ms. Maita Gomez Bantay Kita
45. College Editors Guild of the Philippines
46. Ms. Emy M. Santos National Confederation of Cooperatives (NATCCO)
47. Ms. Tes M. Borgoños Manggagawang Kababaihang Mithi ay Paglaya (MAKALAYA)
48. Ms. Marilyn Fuentes National Union of Building and Construction Workers
49. Atty. Michael Yu Integrated Bar of the Philippines- Cebu City Chapter
50. Dr. Sylvia Estrada Claudio Center for Women’s Studies, University of the Philippines
51. Mr. Viktor Samuel Fontanilla UP ALYANSA
52. Ms. Anna Luz Lopez UP BUKLOD CSSP
53. Mr. Jeffrey Crisostomo AKBAYAN Youth - UP Diliman
54. Ms. Susan Ople Blas Ople Foundation
55. Mr. Romeo Cabugnasan Alyansa ng Maralitang Pilipino
56. Mr. Gus Miclat Initiative for International Dialogue
57. Mr. Antonio Claparols Ecological Society of the Philippines
58. Mr. Javier Claparols Ecological Society of the Philippines
59. Dr. Helen N. Mendoza Soljuspax
60. Dr. Mario Joyo Aguja Mindanao State University System Faculty Federation
61. Ms. Maria Rita Melecio Task Force Detainees of the Philippines – Davao
62. Mr. Juanito Enriquez Civil Society Organization Forum for Peace
63. Ms. Edeliza Hernandez Medical Action Group
64. Ms. Laudica Casana Anda Rural Women Workers Alliance for Progress
65. Ms. Flordeliz Abanto Philippine Association of Communication Educators Foundation, Inc. (PACE)
66. Ms. Victoria M. Segovia Partnership for Clean Air
67. Ms. Grace Chua Consumer Rights for Safe Food
68. Ms. Noemi Tirona Network Opposed to GMOs
69. Ms. Leah Primitiva Samaco-Paquiz Ang Nars
70. Mr. Manny C. Calonzo Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives
71. Atty. Solomon Lumba Institute for Freedom of Information
72. Ms. Paula Mae B. Tanquieng Ayos na Gamot sa Abot-Kayang Presyo (AGAP)
73. Ms. Annie M. Sandalo Code Foundation, Inc.
74. Ed Caharian Philippine Agency for Community and Family
75. Fr. Victor “Junvic” Diolata, Jr., SSS Co-Executive Secretary of AMRSP
76. Fr. Jesus Malit, SSS AMRSP
77. Sr. Mary John Mannanzan, OSB AMRSP
78. Mr. Narciso Jover Jr. Tri-people Concern for Peace, Progress and Development of Mindanao (TRICOM)
79. Atty. Gloria Estenzo Ramos Phil. Earth Justice Center, Inc.
` Atty. Dante T. Ramos
1. Maria V. Mendoza Fair Trade Alliance - Philippines (FairTrade)
2. Mr. Tirso N. Paglicawan, Jr. Kapisanan ng mga Kawani ng Koreo sa Pilipinas Mr. Dante Dean M. Barola (KKKP); Hukuman ng Mamamayan Movement, Inc.
3. Mr. Manuel G. Rama PhilPost Rank-and-File Employees Association
4. Ms. Marlene Ramirez AsiaDHRRA
5. Ms. Minerva Gonzales Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Asia
6. Mr. Angelito Calderon Lakas Mangagawa Labor Center (LMLC)
7. Ms. Ember Cruz Trade Advocates Group
8. Ms. Mary Joycer Filomeno Youth Advocates for Economic Progress (YAEP)
9. Ms. Eileen Matute Coconut Industry Reform Movement (COIR)
10. Mr. David Diwa National Labor Union
11. Mr. Angel Dimalanta Automotive Industry Workers Alliance
12. Ms. Lia Jasmin Esquillo Interface Development Interventions
13. Mr. Nazaño Cacayan Yamog Foundation
14. Mr. Frank Meno Philippine Metalworkers Alliance (PMA)
15. Mr. Eleuterio Tuazon Philippine Association of Free Labor Unions
16. Mr. Ronaldo Tuazon Workers Welfare Watch – Philippines
17. Mr. John Gamit Christian Life Community of the Philippines
18. Mr. Manny Arias Kongreso ng Pagkakaisa ng Mangagawa sa Pilipinas
19. Ms. Romina Astrid Lim Fisheries Improved for Sustainable Harvest Project
20. Mr. Vince Cinches Central Visayas Fisherfolk Development Center Inc.
21. Dr. Suzette H. Lazo, MD
22. Mr. Roberto Versola Philippine Greens
Riedo Panaligan
1. Ms. Jessica Reyes-Cantos Rice Watch and Action Network
2. Atty. Nepomuceno Malaluan Action for Economic Reforms (AER)
Posted 1 year ago by angelicmom

Tags: freedom of information bill,
14th Congress Hall of Shame (updated June 6)

Update June 6- Just received a text message from Malou Mangahas

frm rep joel villanueva- absent daw Mujiv, Ayi, boyet, jack, conrad, eski, fua, pabling, dong ,kako, oca, tarzan, marcoleta, tomawis, pingoy, lala, magi..Lahat yon nandun sa floor! Ibang klase boss, pati footage sa mga cameras nandun mga yun eh :(

Original entry follows

Speaker Prospero Nograles released the names of 140 House representatives who were not present in the June 4 Plenary. The absence of these house reps during roll call resulted in a lack of quorum, which caused the FOI bill to be killed in the 14th Congress. Aside from this list, Speaker Nograles, Rep. Pedro Romualdo and Rep. Art Defensor , the lead actors of “Kill the Freedom of Information Bill” should also be included in this hall of shame.

Why Hall of Shame?

Let me quote Marck Rimorin

It is in the failure to pass the FOI that the House of Representatives, led by none other than Rep. Prospero Nograles, should be shamed for leaving, for the moment, a legacy of tyranny. The FOI was not passed by the House of Representatives for the lack of quorum: that is something that should be etched in the edifice of the Pantheon of Shame made by this institution through the years. No longer a House, but a monument to impunity and an edifice to ignominy.

A Pantheon of Shame, built upon the pillars of laziness, graft, corruption, and incompetence. A Pantheon of Shame where the names of the absentee Representatives are etched on the walls, whose legacy is the burial of the FOI for no other reason than a lack of quorum. A Pantheon of Shame where the names of the members are not preceded by the title “Honorable,” but by what they are: tyrants.

For those in the Pantheon of Shame, they shall forever be remembered for denying the people of it.

Shame on you 143 House Representatives for wasting the people’s money in paying your salaries, and into filing this bill.

List of House Representatives of 14th Congress not present in June 4, 2010 Plenary

GMANews.TV highlighted in bold the names of those who were authors or co-authors of the FOI bill (there are 85) but were absent during the roll call.

(It should be noted that some of these house reps could have been sick like the Pasig City rep. Rep Suarez explained his absence. Let us know why you failed to show up.)

1. Abaya, Joseph Emilio A.
2. Agbayani, Victor Aguedo E.
3. Agyao, Manuel S.
4. Albano, Rodolfo III T.
5. Alcover Pastor Jr. M
6. Almario, Thelma Z.
7. Alvarez, Antonio C.
8. Amante, Edelmiro A.
9. Amatong, Rommel C.
10. Angping, Maria Zenaida B.
11. Aquino, Jose II S.
12. Arnaiz, George P.
13. Arquiza, Godofredo V.
14. Arroyo, Diosdado M.
15. Arroyo, Ignacio T.
16. Arroyo, Maria Lourdes T.
17. Balindong, Pangalian M.
18. Barzaga, Elpidio Jr. F.
19. Bautista, Franklin P.
20. Bichara, Al Francis C.
21. Biron, Ferjenel G.
22. Bondoc, Anna York P.
23. Bravo, Narciso Jr. R.
24. Briones, Nicanor M.
25. Britanico, Salvador B.
26. Cagas, Marc Douglas IV C.
27. Cajayon, Mary Mitzi L.
28. Canonigo, Ranulfo P.
29. Castro, Fredenil H.
30. Celeste, Arthur F.
31. Chiongbian, Erwin L.
32. Chong, Glenn A.
33. Clarete, Marina P.
34. Climaco, Mara Isabelle G.
35. Cobrador, Ceasar A.
36. Cojuangco, Mark O.
37. Coscolluela, Ma. Carissa O.
38. Dangwa, Samuel M.
39. Dayanghirang, Nelson L.
40. Daza, Paul R.
41. De Venecia, Jose Jr. C.
42. Diasnes, Carlo Oliver D.
43. Dimaporo, Abdullah D.
44. Duavit, Michael John R.
45. Dumarpa, Faysah RPM
46. Durano, Ramon VI H.
47. Dy, Faustino III G.
48. Enverga, Wilfrido Mark M.
49. Estrella, Conrado III
50. Estrella, Robert Raymund M.
51. Fabian, Erico Basillo A.
52. Fernandez, Danilo Ramon S.
53. Ferrer, Jeffrey P.
54. Fua, Orlando B.
55. Fuentebella, Arnulfo P.
56. Garcia, Albert S.
57. Garcia, Pablo P.
58. Garcia, Pablo John F.
59. Gatchalian, Rex
60. Gonzales, Aurelio Jr. D.
61. Gonzales, Neptali II M.
62. Gonzalez, Raul Jr. T.
63. Guanlao, Agapito H.
64. Gullas, Eduardo R.
65. Gunigundo, Magtanggol I.T.
66. Hataman, Mujiv S.
67. Hernandez, Ariel C.
68. Hofer, Ann K.
69. Ilagan, Luzviminda C.
70. Jala, Adam Relson R.
71. Jalosjos, Cesar G.
72. Jalosjos-Carreon, Cecilia G.
73. Jikiri, Yusop H.
74. Kho, Antonio T.
75. Lacson, Jose Carlos V.
76. Lagdameo, Antonio Jr. F.
77. Lazatin, Carmelo F.
78. Ledesma, Julio IV A.
79. Leonen-Pizarro, Catalina G.
80. Lim, Teodoro
81. Lopez, Carol Jayne B.
82. Lopez, Jaime C.
83. Macapagal-Arroyo, Juan Miguel
84. Malapitan, Oscar G.
85. Mamba, Manuel N.
86. Marañon, Alfredo III D.
87. Marcoleta, Rodante D.
88. Martinez, Celestino
89. Matugas, Francisco T.
90. Mendoza, Raymond DC
91. Mendoza, Vigor Ma. D
92. Mercado, Roger G.
93. Miraflores, Florencio T.
94. Nava, Joaquin Carlos Rahman A.
95. Nicolas, Reylina G.
96. Omar, Haron D.
97. Palparan, Jovito Jr S.
98. Pancho, Pedro M.
99. Pancrudo, Candido Jr. P.
100. Pingoy, Arthur Jr. Y.
101. Plaza, Rodolfo G.
102. Ponce-Enrile, Salvacion S.
103. Prieto-Teodoro, Monica
104. Puno, Roberto V.
105. Ramiro, Herminia M.
106. Remulla, Jesus Crispin C.
107. Reyes, Carmencita O.
108. Reyes, Victoria H.
109. Robes, Arturo B.
110. Rodriguez-Zaldirriaga, Adelina
111. Romarate, Guillermo Jr. A.
112. Romualdez, Ferdinand Martin G.
113. Romulo, Roman T.
114. Roxas, Jose Antonio F.
115. Salvacion, Andres Jr., D.
116. Santiago, Narciso III D.
117. Santos, Estrella DL.
118. Sarmiento, Ulpiano II P.
119. Seachon-Lanete, Rizalina L.
120. Singson, Ronald V.
121. Solis, Jose G.
122. Suarez, Danilo E.
123. Sy-Alvarado, Ma. Victoria R.
124. Talino-Mendoza, Emmylou J.
125. Tan, Sharee Ann T.
126. Teodoro, Marcelino R.
127. Teves, Pryde Henry A.
128. Tieng, Irwin C.
129. Tomawis, Acmad
130. Tupas, Niel Jr. C.
131. Umali, Czarina D.
132. Uy, Edwin C.
133. Uy, Rolando A.
134. Uy, Reynaldo S.
135. Valdez, Edgar L.
136. Villar, Cynthia A.
137. Villarosa, Ma. Amelita C.
138. Yu, Victor L.
139. Zamora, Ronaldo B.

Source of list- http://www.gmanews.tv/story/192739/list-of-house-members-absent-during-the-roll-call-for-approval-of-freedom-of-info-bill

Posted 1 year ago by angelicmom

Tags: freedom of information bill, house reps, speaker nograles, pedro romualdo, art defensor,
The secrets of the House of Nograles

14^th Congress buying 350 tables, chairs for 15^th Congress for P8M

By Malou C. Mangahas

Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism

WHAT SECRET or secrets of the House of Representatives under Speaker Prospero Nograles would escape public scrutiny, amid Congress’s failed effort to ratify the Freedom of Information Act last Friday?

Many have asked that question after noting that Nograles himself had co-authored House Bill No. 3732, the lower chamber’s version of the FOI bill, which was authored by a full two-thirds or 181 of about 220 House members.

The Speaker had also once described the measure as an effective tool in “attacking” the “deadly virus” of corruption. Said Nograles in a public statement he issued on April 2, 2008: “When there is full disclosure of all government transactions involving public interest, subject to limitations under the proposed Act, the people will have full confidence and trust in their public officials and therefore there will be effective governance.”

Yet last June 4, at 5:07 p.m., he did a seeming 180-degree turn. “The session is adjourned sine die,” Nograles said before he banged the gavel to close the 14^th Congress.

The authors of the aborted bill have since disclosed that Nograles and his allies raised one big objection to the bill: it could be used to review and audit, in a retroactive manner, the deeds and decisions of lawmakers and public officials.

Already, the 14^th Congress is not looking too good even in terms of legislative performance alone.

According to the CongressWatch reports of the Makati Business Club, with a much smaller budget, the 13th Congess passed 154 laws, including 140 that were approved during the third regular session or close to its adjournment sine die in June 2007.

Of the 154, only 39 were of national application just a fourth of the total laws passed. The 13th Congress’s output is lower than that of the previous Congresses, notably 92, 54, and 69 national laws during the 10th, 11th, and 12th Congress, respectively, according to CongressWatch.

As of March 16, 2010, the Senate’s official website says that only 54 laws had been passed by the 14th Congress, out of 82 that had been passed by both chambers.

The Senate, however, had acted upon and passed 821 bills, out of 3,589 bills that had been filed by the 23 senators. The House has yet to report on its accomplishments as of press time.

Contracts under wraps

And yet, with or without the Freedom of Information Act, the House of the 14^th Congress under Nograles may have to explain not just many old contracts that it has kept under wraps, but also a number that it is still bidding out – supposedly for use of the 15^th Congress that is scheduled to convene on July 26 yet.

In fact, on the same day that the 14^th Congress adjourned last June 4, Nograles’s ally, Artemio A. Adasa Jr., chair of the House’s Bid and Awards Committee, closed the bidding for the “supply and delivery of 325 pcs of Executive Tables and 25 pcs of Chairs for the Session Hall of the House of Representatives.”

The approved budget for the contract: a staggering P8,067,500 for the 350 combined total of tables and chairs. This means that the unit cost of each table and chair the Nograles’s House wants to buy for the next House is a fabulous P23,050.

The bid notice signed by Adasa, former congressman from Zamboanga del Norte, was posted from May 29 to June 4 on the House website but has since been pulled down. The pre-bid conference is scheduled today, the opening of the bid documents on June 16, the issuance of the notice of award on June 18, and the delivery of the new “executive tables and chairs,” within 30 days from the award of the contract.

Why the 14^th Congress must purchase new tables and chairs for the Session Hall for use by the 15^th Congress does not seem either proper or necessary, according to minority lawmakers.

For one, it does not look like the tables that lawmakers of the 14^th Congress had hardly used need any immediate replacement. The House had recently bought new chairs for the lawmakers. For another, they note, the additional members of the 15^th Congress from party-list groups and the new congressional districts would not expand the number of House members to more than 287.

(Nograles, a three-term congressman, had lost his bid for mayor of Davao City to Sara Duterte, the daughter of his archrival, outgoing Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. Nograles will not even sit as member of the 15^th Congress. His son and chief of staff, Karlo Alexei, ran and won right to his vacated congressional seat.)

In default of COA

Yet apart from the P8.06-million contract for tables and chairs, Nograles’s 14^th Congress had also been found in default of audit and budget procedures by the Commission on Audit (COA).

The 2008 COA report on the House under Nograles noted that as of Dec. 31, 2008, unnamed congressmen and House personnel had failed to liquidate a total of P15.9 million mostly for travel expenses, incorrectly reported petty cash fund balances of P422,000, and had left P6.77 million worth of four security machines “not utilized and properly kept, and thus exposed to rapid deterioration.”

The 2009 COA report on the House has not been publicly disclosed, but COA insiders told the PCIJ that a number of adverse findings are also enrolled in the report that should have been finished last April 30.

These adverse findings of the COA seem to contravene Nograles’s avowed commitment to uphold “transparency” and to “make every peso count” when he became Speaker in February 2008.

Nograles, in fact, wrestled the speakership from Pangasinan Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr., a long-time ally of outgoing President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on a platform of “transparency.”

But by all indications, instead of “transparency” in the conduct of its fiscal operations, the House under Nograles has distinguished itself for big and expensive infrastructure and supply and services contracts for renovation, beautification and modernization of the lower chamber’s physical facilities, and administrative processes.

Initially, Nograles seemed to have followed up on his pledge when the House uploaded on its website, www.congress.ph, details of the projects funded by the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) – also known as pork barrel – of the House members.

In 2007, Nograles reported that his P35-million PDAF share assisted 36 various education, health and public works projects in his home district and region (Region XI). He said he gave P11 million for computer equipment purchases and scholarship programs for his home region, and P13.2 million for 24 multi-purpose buildings.

In 2008, while most other congressmen disclosed their PDAF-assisted projects, not a single Nograles project was reported on the House website. But as Speaker, Nograles had by then assumed command and discretion over not just his PDAF but also other bigger lump-sum funds in the House’s budget.

Big, bigger budgets

Over the years, the House under Nograles had awarded itself bigger and bigger budgets

In 2007, the House gave itself a budget of P3.44 billion, and in 2008, P3.75 billion. In 2009, the House budget rose further to P4.6 billion and for the current year, rose again by a fourth to P5.53 billion. (These amounts exclude the appropriations for the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal or HRET that are also under the Speaker’s control.)

Of its P3.75-billion total budget in 2008, the House allotted P1.8 billion to maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE), P1.6 billion to personal services, and P115 million to capital outlay.

It was in 2009 that the House’s shift to big purchases became evident. Of its P4.6-billion total budget, nearly half or P2.2 billion went to MOOE, another P1.9 billion to personal services, and just P160 million to capital outlay.

In 2010, of the House’s total budget of P5.53 billion, more than half or P2.7 billion has been set aside for MOOE, P2.1 billion for personal services, and P398 million for capital outlay.

Many of the House’s various million- and billion-peso contracts have since raised allegations of being overpriced and “negotiated,” with some of the accusations coming from inside the House itself.

For instance, in April 2008, the House acquired a P5.8-million air-conditioned bus with a 55-seat capacity.

In May 2008, Rosario ‘Bea’ Obsequio Riel, director of the House’s Internal Audit Department (IAD), blew the whistle on a P4.9-million contract to purchase fire extinguishers that were substandard and overpriced by 150 percent.

Riel also accused Adasa, deputy secretary general and Bid and Awards Committee chairman, of awarding the contract to his supposedly favored contractor, the First Defense Enterprises (FDE) owned by Leonor Dulay.

E-dinosaur project

There is also the case of a multimillion-peso disbursement for a House project that has yet to materialize.

In June 2008, the House boasted that a P15-million biometrics voting system would roll out once Congress opened its second regular session under Nograles.

Rodolfo V. Vicera, director-general of the Congressional Planning and Budget Department (CPBD) and director of the project that started under De Venecia’s term, had told reporters that the new system would have been online in August 2008.

Once in operation, he said, the system would feature “fingerprint voting through biometrics units installed per congressman’s table,” in place of the manual counting of votes and the manual checking of attendance. Vicera said it would have “one central processing unit, 240 computer units each with Internet protocol-based gadgets and finger print scanner, two 3.66-meter x 4.88-meter multimedia projection screens at both sides of the plenary hall to show votes and attendance, and a 127-centimeter television set that will show schedules of committee hearings.”

The House project is part of the so-called “ICT Projects Funded under the E-Government Fund” that had been covered by multimillion-peso disbursements from 2006 to 2008. According to a National Computer Center report, at least P169 million in public funds had been released by the Department of Budget and Management for the House project alone, as of December 2008.

To this day, the House voting and attendance-tally system remains in the dinosaur stage.

Massive facelift

In June 2008, the PCIJ reported that ahead of the opening of the House’s second regular session with Nograles as Speaker, hundreds of millions of pesos had been spent on a massive facelift of the Old Batasang Pambansa building.

With an initial funding of P200 million from President Arroyo from undisclosed funding sources – because no such funds had been allotted in the 2008 budget of the House – the makeover of the House involved:

·        400 laborers worked round the clock in the last six weeks to opening of the House session.

·        Repair of the canopy of the South Wing lobby that was damaged by a powerful bomb blast in November 2007. The initial bill of P9.7 million for this was sourced from funds of the House in February 2008.

·        Use of the P200 million from Arroyo that Nograles requested for the repair, repainting, upgrade, and landscaping of the main and North Wing buildings of the House.

·        Construction of a new four-storey South Wing annex building will rise at a cost of P300 million, courtesy of the Department of Public Works and Highways. (The project was started under De Venecia Jr, Nograles’s predecessor.).

·        Purchase of two units of air-conditioned buses with 55-seat capacity worth P5.8 million each, or P11.6 million in all.

·        Repair and construction of about 30 public comfort rooms worth up to P700,000 each, or at least P200 million in all..

·        Purchase of 135 units of fire extinguishers, including 100 units with 20-pound capacity worth P20,720 each, inclusive of 12 percent value-added tax, or over P2 million had been purchased.

·        Purchase of two ambulance units for the House medical clinic.

Also on the drawing boards of the House under Nograles by June 2008 were many other projects, including:

·        The construction of a new building near the Batasan flagpole to house the library and archives, and museum of Congress.

·        * The full replacement of the dilapidated condenser pipes of the main building’s centralized air-conditioning system.

·        The electrical rewiring and sewerage repair of the Batasan complex.

·        T he replacement of four service elevator units, or two units each in the North and South Wings.

·        The acquisition of more closed-circuit television surveillance cameras and other security equipment to further secure the complex.

As a matter of course, the House uploads on is website the bid documents for most contracts that it awards, but only up to the close of the call for bids. The House bidding process has been closed to representatives of the public, while the bid documents submitted by the participating contractors and the decision of the BAC are not disclosed at all.

Not surprisingly, suspicion lingers that many secrets have been kept under lock and key in the House. Supporters of the Freedom of Information Act thus argue that it would have served the public – and the House – well.

One lawmaker told PCIJ that if retroactivity was indeed the Speaker’s major concern, it meant that “there could be skeletons in the closet that he did not want exposed.” – PCIJ, June 2010

Posted 1 year ago by angelicmom

Tags: freedom of information, freedom of information bill,
Advocates to Congress, P-Noy: Rush #FOI law, observe disclosure rule even now

THE 15^th Congress must adopt, refile and pass with dispatch the version of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act that was aborted in the 14^th Congress because of the feigned absence of a quorum on the last session day of the House of Representatives last June 4.

In a statement, the Right to Know Right Now! Coalition of over 160 civil society groups and leaders said, “the new senators and congressmen may do well not to repeat the processes so they can save valuable time and even more valuable taxpayers’ money.”

The Senate had ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the FOI but the House not only failed to act but even thwarted the bill’s passage.

Pending action on the bill in the 15^th Congress„ the Coalition called on the government of President Benigno C. Aquino III to “translate its commitment to transparency into clear policies and concrete action” and promptly convey to Congress his unequivocal support for the immediate passage of the bill.

The Coalition said the President might consider enrolling his support for the FOI bill in his first State of the Nation Address on July 23, as well as through an appropriate message to Congress certifying the necessity of its immediate enactment.

Yet even without an FOI law, the Coalition said President Aquino and his appointees could on their own “promulgate and observe active disclosure policies in their decisions and transactions, notably appointments, contracts, executive agreements, borrowing, and spending.”

Additionally, the Coalition exhorted the new House of Representatives to “introduce amendments to its Rules and changes in its practice, to prevent a repeat of capricious acts by the leaders of the 14^th Congress that undermine not only the due performance of its legislative duty but also the integrity of the institution.”

The House, the Coalition noted, “must stop the practice of dispensing with the roll call at the start of session to railroad measures without quorum.”

The Coalition stressed that “attendance in sessions, an important obligation to state and people by every member of Congress, can only be enforced if quorum is strictly observed before session can proceed.”

On session days when a quorum is not present amid urgent business matters on the agenda, the Coalition said, “Congress must exercise its right to compel the attendance of absent members. In terms of the determination of quorum, the Rules must be amended to provide an effective check on the Secretary General’s determination of the result of a roll call.”

“The Rules on the consideration of conference reports must be strengthened to give effect to its high privilege in the order of business, and avoid the arbitrary and unjust blocking of an important measure by the House leadership as happened in the FOI bill conference report,” the Coalition said.

Last June 4, the last session day of the 14^th Congress, House Secretary General Marilyn B. Yap declared that only 128 members were present – or seven short of the 135 required to constitute a quorum – at the close of a roll call prompted by a quorum question from Lakas-Kampi ally of then Speaker Prospero Nograles.

A motion was made for the present members to compel the attendance of the absent members, as provided by Section 74 of the House Rules but Nograles simply scoffed at the motion.

After Nograles released the list of House members who were supposedly absent on June 4, at least nine congressmen later came forward and were established on video footage to have been actually present at the session hall during the roll call.

They include Representatives Neptali Gonzales II, Roilo Golez, Michael John “Jack” Duavit, Mujiv Hataman, Arthur Pingoy, Magtanggol Gunigundo, Jovito Palparan, Pablo P. Garcia, and Oscar Malapitan.

According to the Coalition, “by all accounts, the number of House members present at the June 4 session was more than the required number to constitute quorum and the Freedom of Information Act could have been ratified that same day.”

The Coalition vowed to continue its effort to establish “which House leaders and Secretariat personnel must be held accountable for the events of June 4.”

At the same time, the Coalition said, “we must also chart the immediate next steps to move the Freedom of Information Act forward” and in the relentless campaign to pass the FOI. “we call on the members of the 15^th Congress, both from the Senate and the House, and the Executive, to commit themselves to support it,”

The first step, the Coalition said, is for members of the new Congress to adopt, refile and pass the version of the bill that had been approved by the 14^th Congress’s bicameral conference committee . This version is “as progressive and as reasonable as a Freedom of Information Act could get.”

“It provides a standard and definite procedure for dealing with requests for information. It clearly defines a narrow list of exceptions, carefully balancing the public interest in broad disclosure with the public interest in keeping certain information secret. It secures for citizens concurrent remedies in cases of denial of access to information,” the Coalition said.

Moreover, “it provides implementing mechanics for the public disclosure of a list of important government transactions, without need of request from anyone. It provides criminal and administrative sanctions for violation of the right to information.”

Just as well, the bicameral conference committee version “introduces numerous mechanisms for the active promotion of openness in government. All these directly address the operational gaps that have made the Constitutional right to information and the state policy of full disclosure of government transactions involving public interest, extremely difficult to enforce in practice. “ – PCIJ, July 2010

Posted 1 year ago by angelicmom

Tags: FOI, freedom of information bill,

Mom Blogger

Showing posts tagged freedom of information bill

Freedom of Information Stories and Blog Posts

Will Nograles & his House ratify the FOI Bill?

14th Congress Hall of Shame (updated June 6)

The secrets of the House of Nograles

Contracts under wraps

In default of COA

Big, bigger budgets

E-dinosaur project

Advocates to Congress, P-Noy: Rush #FOI law, observe disclosure rule even now

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