by Jocelyn P. Alvarez
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Feb. 07 (PIA 9) - - Local media here and state workers commend President Aquino’s recent release of the approved draft of the Freedom of Information (FoI) Bill.
“Approving a draft of a bill that would allow information on government services freely available to public is laudable move,” said Riza Lacbao of Zambotimes.com online news in a candid conversation with Philippine Information Agency 9.
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| Riza Lacbao of zambotimes.com online news |
She said, such move from the palace builds trust and confidence that would result to a more efficient work flow, less, if not totally void of corruption and can even provide feedback mechanism that will fine-tune bureaucratic services.
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| Antonette Go of DZT |
Antonette Go, news writer of the Daily Zamboanga Times (DZT) contained her excitement about the bill in a text message saying “itong Freedom of Information bill ay maganda lalo na sa aming mga mamamahayag dahil mas mapapadali nito ang aming trabaho, mas madali kaming makakakuha ng information na kailangan namin” (this Freedom of Information bill is good for us media, because it will hasten work for us due to readily accessible government information).
“Maganda din ito dahil magiging bukas din ang information sa public dahil makakatulong ang public pag well informed sila.” (This is good because information will now be open to the public. The public can help if they are well informed) Go said.
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| Bernie Concepcion of Radyo ng Bayan |
“Transparency is the key to good governance. The FoI is a long overdue measure which is the foundation of democracy, the cornerstone of good and responsible leadership under a solidified democratic principle of progressive pro-people institutions,” Bernie Concepcion, broadcaster, Radyo ng Bayan commented.
He said freedom is the core value of human dignity when practiced fully.
“FoI is now the gauge for people to make decision collectively in support of the state under a democratic space value. Bottom line is good governance must be reinforced by transparency, while unveiling the truth in open democratic governance would be fundamental, so that honesty, sincerity and dignity can emerge reflecting the kind of institution we have.” Concepcion was quoted as saying.
Vergel Meneses, also a local media here salutes the president for releasing the approved draft of the FoI bill saying “this is truly a commendable move of the President.”
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| Bong Bue, Radio anchor |
“Thank you Mr. President. We need that FoI to expose corruption,” said Bong Bue, a radio announcer/anchor and a teacher in one of the colleges here.
Taking the side of state workers, Lowell Vallecer, Information Officer, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said “I wholeheartedly agree with the passage of the FoI. It would be a major milestone, a big step towards ensuring transparency and accountability in government,” he shared.
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| Lowell Vallecer of DTI |
Vallecer hopes and pray that the bill gets to be enacted into a law soon.
“I fully support PNoy’s anti-corruption initiatives and efforts to put grafters behind bars ,” he said.
Socci of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said although she is not well verse of the FoI but she appreciates the President’s move, “ I hope there were conditions and grounds prior to its release,” she said.
Recently, the Makati Business Club (MBC) commends the palace for the release of the approved draft of the FoI.
MBC in a press statement said “MBC believes that the passage of the FoI law is an indispensable element of … [President Benigno S. C.] Aquino [III] administration’s commitment to the ‘daang matuwid’ (straight path).“
Meanwhile, according to Undersecretary Manolo Quezon of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office, the FoI will guarantee full access to information or public disclosure of government undertakings “except when the information is detrimental to the ability of the state to protect peace and order, diplomatic relations with other countries and compromise police and military operations.” (JPA/PIA-ZBST)