Manila: The president's office said it is rushing a crucial measure that will provide greater public access to information concerning government documents and records.
President Benigno Aquino had said the passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill must be a legacy of his administration as it will ensure transparency in government.
The palace version is a ‘substitute' for the original FOI Bill that was forwarded to the administration allies at the lower house.
Undersecretary Manuel Quezon of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO) said the Aquino administration hoped the legislators would pass it in the second regular session of the 15th Congress.
"I think it would be fair to assume that this ought to be, should be, and will be one of the crowning achievements of the 15th Congress," Quezon said in a palace report. The palace said it had sent its own version of the bill on Friday.
According to Quezon, the president believes the reforms in government, particularly its transparency to the people, must remain a policy of any government.
The House of Representatives failed to ratify the bill during the 14th Congress, due to protests by congressmen, although the Senate ratified a similar measure in the bicameral conference committee.
