Minority lawmakers in the House have revived the long-stalled push for a Freedom of Information (FOI) law by filing House Bill 2897, the “People’s Freedom of Information Act of 2025,” to institutionalize the public’s right to access government records.
The proposed measure mandates agencies to disclose official transactions, budgets, and officials’ SALNs, while creating clear procedures for FOI requests and penalties for non-compliance.
Though similar measures have repeatedly failed in Congress, the bill’s proponents—led by Rep. Leila de Lima and backed by six other lawmakers—hope to finally break the legislative deadlock.
A counterpart bill, Senate Bill 720, was also filed by Senator Kiko Pangilinan.
However, President Marcos has yet to certify any FOI bill as urgent, raising questions about his administration’s true commitment to transparency.
Source: PhilNews24 | August 5, 2025
