Last night Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media, tried to make a go for passage of the FOI Act. In the end it was not taken up. Advocates need to regroup for a full defense of the bill.
Earlier in the week there was a commitment from Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, Senate Majority Leader, to include the FOI bill in the agenda for the last day before the Senate goes into recess. This is the day when the Senate holds marathon session to pass most pending measures. Senator Cayetano came prepared with his sponsorship speech and answers to anticipated questions. Later in the night it was still unclear whether the bill will be taken up. Senator Cayetano negotiated, but at about 10:30 pm, the word from Sen. Zubiri was that there were Senators reserving to interpellate, and one of them was Senator Santiago, who was not present. It was clear that the bill will not pass that day.
The implication of this is that the bill will go through a full defense on the floor. We will know whether there are efforts to block the passage of the bill, and by whom, when the bill gets to the floor. In this context, the role of advocates becomes more crucial if the bill is to be passed by the Senate. The passage needs to be done as quickly as possible, considering that it may have to go trough the bicameral conference committee, and considering as well the complications that could arise from the Con Ass moves by the House of Representatives. It will be tough work for the advocates in the coming two months.
On a positive note, the Committee Report has been signed and filed, still within schedule. We now have a committee report number and a consolidate bill number: SENATE BILL NO. 3308 UNDER COMMITTEE REPORT NO. 534. I also look at the full defense at the Senate on the bright side: as an opportunity for advocates to consolidate and increase public awareness on the bill, get more champions, and sweat this one out hopefully for a well-earned FOI Act by the third quarter of 2009.
Earlier in the week there was a commitment from Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, Senate Majority Leader, to include the FOI bill in the agenda for the last day before the Senate goes into recess. This is the day when the Senate holds marathon session to pass most pending measures. Senator Cayetano came prepared with his sponsorship speech and answers to anticipated questions. Later in the night it was still unclear whether the bill will be taken up. Senator Cayetano negotiated, but at about 10:30 pm, the word from Sen. Zubiri was that there were Senators reserving to interpellate, and one of them was Senator Santiago, who was not present. It was clear that the bill will not pass that day.
The implication of this is that the bill will go through a full defense on the floor. We will know whether there are efforts to block the passage of the bill, and by whom, when the bill gets to the floor. In this context, the role of advocates becomes more crucial if the bill is to be passed by the Senate. The passage needs to be done as quickly as possible, considering that it may have to go trough the bicameral conference committee, and considering as well the complications that could arise from the Con Ass moves by the House of Representatives. It will be tough work for the advocates in the coming two months.
On a positive note, the Committee Report has been signed and filed, still within schedule. We now have a committee report number and a consolidate bill number: SENATE BILL NO. 3308 UNDER COMMITTEE REPORT NO. 534. I also look at the full defense at the Senate on the bright side: as an opportunity for advocates to consolidate and increase public awareness on the bill, get more champions, and sweat this one out hopefully for a well-earned FOI Act by the third quarter of 2009.
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