PNoy asked to push for FOI bill approval in SONA

One of the advocates of the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill yesterday urged President Aquino to push for the passage of the pro-transparency measure during his sixth and last State of Nation Address (SONA) on July 27.

Ifugao Rep. Teddy Brawner Baguilat made the call after Malacañang vowed to push for the approval of FOI in President Aquino’s final year in office.

"There has to be expressed declaration either in the SONA or a call for the House leadership to mobilize the House blocs to move it when we resume session,’ he said.

Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said that FOI is in the list of priority bills submitted by the Office of the President to Congress.

Baguilat agreed with House Majority Floor Leader and Mandaluyong City Rep. Neptali “Boyet” Gonzales II that the chance of approving the FOI bill is becoming slimmer because the Lower Chamber will be preoccupied with the approval of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) and the Executive's proposed P3.002-trillion national budget next year.

"With BBL still nowhere to being settled and the anti- political dynasty bill and economic Cha-cha still on the table plus the looming budget deliberations, FOI needs some special attention by our leaders to make it to sponsorship and deliberations in the coming two months," she said.

"Congressman Boyet may indeed be right. But as the old adage goes: if there's a will there's a way. It will take a confluence of ingredients to cook up FOI. But it can be made easier starting with proactive leadership support," he pointed out.

Congress opens its Third Regular Session on July 27.

Gonzales said the Lower Chamber will be very busy passing the BBL and the proposed national budget for 2016, which is expected to reach the plenary in the latter part of September.

“The chances of approving these (FOI, anti-political dynasty and economic Cha-cha) are becoming slimmer because our hands are full now with the BBL and approving next year’s national budget,” he said in an earlier interview.