Pass FOI bill, professors urge

MANILA, Philippines – Professors from different colleges and universities released a joint statement calling for the passage of the Freedom of Information bill. With 8 session days remaining in the 15th congress, academics expressed concern over the seeming inaction and lack of urgency in taking up the measure.

The statement emphasizes that access to publicly-held information is a fundamental right of citizens. Professors who also engage in empirical research have identified “arbitrary roadblocks set by public offices [as] barriers” to a careful and systematic examination of government operations.

Through this statement, academics have joined the call of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, and other advocacy groups pushing for the bill’s passage.

Beyond media

Earlier, academics said the FOI bill is vital to their work as researchers. 

“As scholars, we view access to data as an integral component in evidence-based research. Currently, the arbitrary roadblocks sent by public offices are barriers to a sincere examiniation of government operations,” academics from the University of the Philippines said in a statement. 

It will also encourage ordinary citizens to be more involved in national affairs, National Union of Journalists in the Philippines secretary general Rowena Paraan said. 

“We are not just supporting this to make our lives easier. We support this because we believe it will create an environment wherein ordinary citizens will be encouraged to join and actively participate in government,” she said.

Below is the full statement from university professors:

Joint statement of university professors for FOI

We, the undersigned faculty of various universities, in our individual capacity as scholars and citizens, urge our Representatives in Congress to pass the Freedom of Information bill.

We consider the bill an important piece of legislation to uphold our fundamental right to publicly-held information. As scholars, we view access to data as an integral component in evidence-based research. Currently, the arbitrary roadblocks set by public offices are barriers to a sincere examination of government operations. As citizens, access to information is critical to responsible participation in national life. Transparency is our greatest defense against public officials who have diverged from the will of the electorate. It is also valued highly by public servants who have done right and performed well.

We express concern that failure to pass the bill in the fifteenth congress sets back the administration’s reform agenda at a crucial time when transparency in governance needs to be institutionalized. It is unacceptable that a progressive piece of legislation is held hostage by politicians with vested interest seeking to incapacitate citizens who aim to hold them accountable.

There is still enough time to pass the bill. We press the fifteenth congress to take action and pass the FOI bill now.

Signed,

1. Prof. Carmela Abao, Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University
2. Prof. Flordeliz L. Abanto, Mass Communication Department, St. Scholastica’s College-Manila
3. Prof. Joy Aceron, Ateneo School of Government, Ateneo de Manila University
4. Prof. Arjan P. Aguirre, Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University
5. Dr. Michael Alba, President, Far Eastern University
6. Dr. Fernando Aldaba, Economics Department, Ateneo de Manila University
7. Prof. Marinela M. Aseron, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman
8. Dr. Aileen S.P. Baviera, Asian Center, UP Diliman
9. Dr. Edsel L. Beja Jr., Economics Department, Ateneo de Manila University
10. Dr. Ma. Luisa De Leon-Bolinao, History Department, UP Diliman
11. Dr. Angelina E. Borican, Publications Office, Polytechnic University of the Philippines
12. Prof. Ma. Teresa Briones, Ateneo School of Government, Ateneo School of Government
13. Dr. Rhodora Masilang-Bucoy, Political Science Program, UP Cebu
14. Prof. Valerie Pagasa P. Buenaventura, Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University
15. Prof. Jason Vincent A. Cabanes, Department of Communication, Ateneo de Manila University
16. Prof. Nelson G. Cainghog, Department of Political Science, UP Diliman
17. Dr. Loreta Castro, Miriam College
18. Dr. Tina S. Clemente, Asian Center, UP Diliman
19. Dr. Lisandro Claudio, Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University
20. Dr. Sylvia Estrada Claudio, Center for Women’s Studies, UP Diliman
21. Prof. Jose Antonio R. Clemente, Department of Psychology, UP Diliman
22. Dr. Antonio P. Contreras, Department of Political Science, De La Salle University
23. Dr. Nicole Curato, Department of Sociology, UP Diliman
24. Dr. Soledad M. Dalisay, Department of Anthropology, UP Diliman
25. Dr. Buenaventura Dargantes, Institute for Strategic Research and Development Studies, Visayas State University
26. Dr. Clarissa David, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman
27. Dr. Maria Helen F. Dayo, Gender Centre, UP Los Baños
28. Dr. J. Prospero E. de Vera, National College of Public Administration and Governance, UP Diliman
29. Prof. Josephine Dionisio, Department of Sociology,  UP Diliman
30. Prof. Yolanda G. Ealdama, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman
31. Prof. Adonis Elumbre, College of Social Sciences, UP Baguio
32. Dr. Elizabeth L. Enriquez, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman
33. Prof. Melba S. Estonilo, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman
34. Prof. Nicardo M. Falcis II, Business Administration Department, UP Diliman
35. Prof. Josefa Francisco, Women and Gender Institute, Miriam College
36. Dr. Jean S. Encinas–Franco, Department of Political Science, UP Diliman
37. Dr. Eduardo T. Gonzalez, Asian Center, UP Diliman
38. Dr. Marita Castro Guevara, Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, Ateneo de Manila University
39. Dr. Filomin Candaliza-Gutierrez, Department of Sociology, UP Diliman 
40.  Prof. Jose C. Gutierrez III, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman
41. Prof. Vito Hernandez, Archaeological Studies Program, University of the Philippines
42. Prof. Ronald D. Holmes, Department of Political Science, De La Salle University
43. Prof. Arturo Benedicto M. Ilano, College of Business Administration, UP Diliman
44. Dr. Grace Gorospe Jamon, Department of Political Science, UP Diliman
45. Dr. Lydia N. Yu Jose, Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University
46. Dr. Antonio La Vina, Ateneo School of Government, Ateneo de Manila University
47. Dr. Maria Elissa Jayme Lao, Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University
48. Dr. Joseph Anthony Lim, Economics Department, Ateneo de Manila University
49. Prof. Eric Julian Manalastas, Department of Psychology and Centre for Women’s Studies, UP Diliman
50. Dr. Florinda D.F. Mateo, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman
51. Dr. Teresa Melgar, Department of Sociology, UP Diliman
52. Dr. Amado M. Mendoza, Jr., Department of Political Science, UP Diliman
53. Dr. Maria Fe Villamejor Mendoza, National College of Public Administration and Governance, UP Diliman
54. Dr. Meynardo P. Mendoza, Department of History, Ateneo de Manila University
55. Dr. Ronald U. Mendoza, Asian Institute of Management
56. Dr. Lilibeth Miralles, Research Unit Head, Visayas State University
57. Prof. Praksis Miranda, Department of Sociology, UP Diliman
58. Prof. Louie C. Montemar, Department of Political Science, De La Salle University
59. Prof. Emeritus Francisco Nemenzo, Jr., Department of Political Science, UP Diliman
60. Prof. Janine Therese P. Ochoa, Department of Anthropology, UP Diliman
61. Dr. Rene E. Ofreneo, School of Labor and Industrial Relations, UP Diliman
62. Dr. Rosalinda Pineda Ofreneo, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman
63. Dr. Mary Racelis, Institute of Philippine Culture, Ateneo de Manila University
64. Dr. Ma. Lourdes Veneracion-Rallonza, Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University
65. Prof. Sabrina Nikki Ramos, Department of Sociology, UP Diliman
66. Prof. Rene Raymond R. Raneses, Jr., Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University
67. Prof. Ranjit Rye, Department of Political Science, UP Diliman
68. Dr. Neil Martial R. Santillan, Department of History, UP Diliman
69. Dr. Alma Maria O. Salvador, Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University
70. Prof. Teresita Ang See, College of Social Sciences, Ateneo de Manila University
71. Dr. Carolyn I. Sobritchea, Asian Center, UP Diliman
72. Prof. Randy Jay C. Solis, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman
73. Dr. Eduardo Climaco Tadem, Asian Center, UP Diliman
74. Dr. Teresa Tadem, Department of Political Science, UP Diliman
75. Prof. Efenita M. Taqueban, Department of Anthropology, UP Diliman
76. Prof. Carlos P. Tatel, Jr., Department of Anthropology, UP Diliman
77. Dr. Benito L. Teehankee, Management and Organization Department, De La Salle University
78. Dr. Benjamin T. Tolosa, Jr., Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University
79. Prof. Philip Arnold P. Tuano, Economics Department, Ateneo de Manila University
80. Dr. Faina C. Abaya-Ulindang, History Department, Mindanao State University-Marawi
81. Dr. Helena S. Valderrama, Department of Accounting and Finance, UP Diliman
82. Dr. Victor S. Venida, Economics Department, Ateneo de Manila University
83. Prof. Nathalie A. Verceles, Department of Women and Development Studies, UP Diliman
84. Prof. Myrose April C. Victor, Department of Accounting and Finance, UP Diliman
85. Dr. Elvira A. Zamora, College of Business Administration, UP Diliman  – Rappler.com