Palace urges Congress to pass FOI bill — Metro-Manila

The Philippine government continues to advocate for a comprehensive Freedom of Information law, emphasizing its critical role in ensuring government transparency and accountability. Executive officials highlight that while existing policies cover the executive branch, true scrutiny requires extending these rights to the legislature, judiciary, and local government units. Legislators have responded by filing separate bills to establish a unified legal framework. This bipartisan effort reflects a growing consensus among lawmakers and civil society groups to strengthen the public’s right to access information, aiming to institutionalize transparency across all levels of state administration. This development is vital for open data initiatives, as a formal FOI law provides the necessary legal basis for systematic data disclosure. Without such legislation, access remains fragmented and discretionary. Codifying these rights ensures that public data is not merely shared ad hoc but is treated as a fundamental component of democratic governance and civic engagement.

Source: asianjournal.com
Published on 2025-07-31

Palace urges Congress to pass FOI bill — Metro-Manila

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