Aquino OKs submission of Palace’s FOI bill to Congress
by Chichi Conde and Lira Dalangin-Fernandez, InterAksyon.com
January 4, 2012

 MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE – 5:10 p.m.) After languishing for 13 long years, the Freedom of Information bill finally appears on the verge of becoming law after President Benigno Aquino III approved a final Palace version of the measure on Wednesday and ordered it submitted to Congress.

Aquino gave the green light after meeting with his spokesman Edwin Lacierda, Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office head Ramon Carandang, PCDSPO Undersecretary Manolo Quezon, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, and Energy Secretary Rene Almendras.

Quezon said the Palace version — finalized after months of consultations with lawmakers, stakeholders, and government officials — will be submitted to Congress “in a few days” to ensure its swift passage.

“The President’s marching order is to push ahead with the FOI,” Quezon said.

Lawmakers on Wednesday welcomed Aquino’s order, although Eastern Samar Representative Ben Evardone, who chairs the House of Representatives’ public information committee, said this did not mean the chamber would totally adopt the Palace version.

While saying the submission of the Palace version would “definitely hasten the approval of the FOI bill,” Evardona added that “it does mean, however, that we will adopt it hook line and sinker.”

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