Last 09 November, we welcomed with deep appreciation the Senate’s commitment to pass the Freedom of Information Act without delay. We gave our full confidence to their assurance, made through Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, that Senate Bill 3308 will be passed on second reading by November 18, and on third reading by 1 December. This timetable only gives enough time to convene the bicameral conference committee and report back for final approval of the bill before Congress breaks for the elections on 5 February 2010.

By DR. FLORANGEL ROSARIO BRAID
November 17, 2009, 5:59pm

Nepomuceno Malaluan, lawyer and co-convenor of Access to Information Network (ATIN), is one of those rare breed of committed advocates. He not only makes a daily account of what needs to be done to get Senate Bill 3308 passed before Congress adjourns, but is likewise ensuring that the momentum of this critical advocacy is sustained. ATIN had provided technical support to House Bill 3732 which was approved by the Lower House a year ago. The experience of ATIN – the patience and tenacity of its network members that enabled the bill to pass in the Lower House and now to its present stage in the Senate – promises to be one of the more interesting case studies of political advocacy in the 14th Congress. Nepo writes:

“Today, we enter Day 20 of our remaining session days countdown. This week, we expect Sen. Alan Cayetano (chair of the Senate Committee on Information) to push the bill to approval on second reading, with interpellations from Sen. Joker Arroyo and Sen. Pimentel. I have submitted to Sen. Cayetano the draft consolidated amendments as well as a draft response to Sen. Santiago’s amendments.

by Nepomuceno Malaluan

originaly posted on Businessworld 16 November 2009

Last November 9, representatives of the Right to Know. Right Now! Campaign marched to the Senate to appeal the immediate passage of Senate Bill 3308, or the Freedom of Information Act.

The bill needs to complete its periods of interpellation and amendments before it is approved on second and third readings.

Only then can the bill go to the bicameral conference committee for reconciliation with House Bill 3732 that was approved by the Lower House more than a year ago. With an alarm clock mascot, the group sounded the alarm, as only 23 session days remained before Congress breaks for the elections. Should Congress fail to pass the Freedom of Information Act by then, years of effort that went into the crafting of a progressive and responsive Freedom of Information Act will again go down the drain as in previous Congresses.

By Aurea Calica (The Philippine Star) Updated November 10, 2009 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - The Senate committed yesterday to pass the Freedom of Information Bill before next year’s elections.

Five months after the House of Representatives approved House Bill 3732, its counterpart, Senate Bill 3308, remains under interpellation.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and other senators assured members of Right to Know, Right Now! Network from over 70 organizations of journalists, academics, workers, youth, businessmen, religious and civil society leaders, and some members of Congress that they would pass SB 3308 on second reading.