Optimism runs high over passage of FOI, budget modernization bills

AS the Marcos Jr. administration enters its second year, a Department of Budget and Management (DBM) official expressed optimism that Congress will soon pass the controversial Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill and the Budget Modernization Bill.

DBM Assistant Secretary Rolando Toledo made the statement during a forum on Friday dubbed, “The Legitimacy of President Marcos Jr.: Entailing the Need for More Transparent and Accountable Governance”, organized by the Stratbase ADR Institute and Democracy Watch Philippines.

“[We’re] looking forward to having the FOI law passed. With this administration, with the push from the executive, we are looking forward, we’ll have the Freedom of Information law,” Toledo said.

“As far as FOI [in local governments] is concerned, there are already gains. Around 61 local budget issuances as far as Freedom of Information has been signed. It has been a law at the local government units already,” he added. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr earlier called on “all branches of government to genuinely uphold and give effect to the people’s freedom of information in the course of our day-to-day operations, with good faith and openness”.

Zubiri also mentioned some people, whom he did not identify, told a foreign investor not to give high salaries to their Filipino workers

“I brought a company into Clark and then imagine, they want to pay above minimum wage, but was told ‘don’t do that’ because it will look like you can afford it and therefore you will not get the incentives given to ecozones. I could not believe my mind,” narrated.

“They have to keep the wages this low so it will look like they are incapable of paying so they have the so-called economic fiscal incentives,” Zubiri said.

“That is ludicrous. It’s crazy. imagine the frustration we feel.”

He vowed to tackle this issue in the next Senate budget hearing, and pointed out President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “is doing a great job being the number one salesman of our country.”

Toledo also said the Budget Modernization Bill, which is a priority of the Marcos administration, was getting more support in both chambers of Congress.

“Yes, we are hopeful that this PBBM [Progressive Budgeting for Better and Modernization Governance] bill will be passed. Given that we’ve already consulted a lot in Congress and there are congressmen who are sponsoring this bill already. We have already 11 who authored in Congress and 2 in the Senate… As far as the Senate is concerned, we’ve already identified and responded to the proposal of PBBM [Budget Modernization Bill]. We’re hopeful, but it all depends still on Congress,” he explained.

“We saw that we really need [to] publish our reports and our documents, and make them available to the public. That is very important because we want the public to know what the government is doing, what the government is investing in,” Toledo said.

Stratbase president and Democracy Watch Philippines lead convenor Dindo Manhit urged President Marcos to capitalize on his legitimate electoral victory and on his consequent strong political capital in pushing for important legislation such as the Freedom of Information Bill and the Budget Modernization Bill.

BACOOR PLESBISCITE. Commission on Elections chairman George Garcia calls on residents of Bacoor City to go out and vote in the city’s plebiscite this coming July 29. Garcia makes the call during the First Bacoor City Plebiscite Joint Security Command Conference being held at the Fynn Boutique Hotel in Bacoor City. With Garcia are Commissioner Aimee Ferolino, Executive Director Teopisto Elnas Jr. and Cavite police chief CoL Christopher Olazo. Joseph Muego