Friday, 7 July 2010
Three Doors for Math and Transparency
By Nina Somera
Three portals for three kinds of vote: yes, no and undecided. These are probably what the Philippine Congress needs, learning from the apparently rigged voting on the Freedom of Information Bill.
The Freedom of Information Bill would have allowed citizens especially media and activists to obtain more documents on the state’s affairs especially the financial deals of the government and even the lifestyle of its public officials.
Already on its final reading on the very last day of the 14th Congress, the bill was derailed because of a feigned absence of a quorum. The House said that it was seven members shy to complete the required 135 minimum number of members. But when the list of absentees was released the day after, nine members asserted that they were present as shown by video footage.
The Freedom of Information Bill could have strengthened Filipinos’ access to documents on the country’s dealings with international financial institutions such as the Asian Development Bank.
Three Doors for Math and Transparency
By Nina Somera
Three portals for three kinds of vote: yes, no and undecided. These are probably what the Philippine Congress needs, learning from the apparently rigged voting on the Freedom of Information Bill. The Freedom of Information Bill would have allowed citizens especially media and activists to obtain more documents on the state’s affairs especially the financial deals of the government and even the lifestyle of its public officials.
Already on its final reading on the very last day of the 14th Congress, the bill was derailed because of a feigned absence of a quorum. The House said that it was seven members shy to complete the required 135 minimum number of members. But when the list of absentees was released the day after, nine members asserted that they were present as shown by video footage. The Freedom of Information Bill could have strengthened Filipinos’ access to documents on the country’s dealings with international financial institutions such as the Asian Development Bank.
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