17 December 2009
HON. PROSPERO C. NOGRALES
Speaker
Thru: HON. ARTHUR D. DEFENSOR
Majority Leader
Dear Mr. Speaker:
We are happy to report that the Senate has approved on Third Reading Senate Bill No. 3308 otherwise known as the "Freedom of Information Act" or what is listed among the Speaker's Legislative Reform Agenda for the House of the People under Political and Governance Reforms, "Access to Public Information."
As principal authors of its counterpart measure House Bill No. 3732, and, working closely on this bill, we move for the full adoption by the House of Senate Bill No. 3308.
SB No. 3308 is as much a House version as it is a Senate version. We were informed by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Information that their committee adopted HB No. 3732 as starting point for their work. The result is a Senate version that does not depart much from our version and remains faithful to our frame of introducing the much needed implementing details for full government transparency, subject only to a narrow regime of reasonable limitations.
Indeed, its enactment into law would be the 14th Congress' critical contribution to a dynamic democracy, ensuring informed participation by its citizenry. Let this Congress be truly a House of the People.
Very truly yours,
REP. LORENZO R. TAÑADA III REP. EMMANUEL JOEL J. VILLANUEVA
For the Majority For the Minority
Chair, TWG, HB 3732
