FORMER Quezon Rep. Erin Tañada urged both chambers of Congress to pass the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill as it would help stop corruption in the country.
According to Tañada, the proposal for an FOI law has been languishing in Congress since 1988.
“Nakakahiya po ang ating mga national leaders kung saan itong usapin ay pinapabayaang matulog ng ganyan,” he told reporters at the Commission on Elections after filing his certificate of candidacy to run for senator under the opposition Liberal Party.
The passage of the FOI bill is one of the main advocacies of Tañada.
In Pasig, a local version of the FOI bill was passed recently, the first in Metro Manila.
Under Ordinance No. 37 or the “Pasig Transparency Mechanism Ordinance”, all citizens have the right to access, examine and copy public records, as well as publish and disseminate the said documents.