Petition for Philippine Access to Information Law
Truth, Accountibility, Reform
Information Session With Atty Bernas
Atty Bernas was the professor of Atty Eirene Aguila of Team RP, who did her thesis on FOI. She set up an information session for us June 7. Rhia, Bobot, Paeng, Eirene, and I attended.
Here is the summary of the main points:
1. Atty. Bernas predicts that with the current political climate, the senate will pass the law unless it is faulty, i.e., will actually hinder information dissemination
2. There is no avoiding the "nuts and bolts" of the law. Defective laws that don't achieve what they are meant to are very common. People need to pay attention to the details of the law, because it's in the details where it can fail. For guidance, compare it to the FOI laws in the US, but should be tougher to counteract our "pilosopo" culture. Paeng has sent a copy of the law to Atty. Bernas for his review.
3. In terms of getting the law passed, Atty. Bernas suggests setting things up so that senators supporting the law are publicly praised and those opposing the law are publicly shamed. This is a key factor in what motivates them to do things, especially before 2010 elections.
4. Access to information is not enough. The law require actively disseminating / publishing information. People should be able to find key info publicly without having to ask for it.
Full notes attached as an excel file to this discussion.
Here is the summary of the main points:
1. Atty. Bernas predicts that with the current political climate, the senate will pass the law unless it is faulty, i.e., will actually hinder information dissemination
2. There is no avoiding the "nuts and bolts" of the law. Defective laws that don't achieve what they are meant to are very common. People need to pay attention to the details of the law, because it's in the details where it can fail. For guidance, compare it to the FOI laws in the US, but should be tougher to counteract our "pilosopo" culture. Paeng has sent a copy of the law to Atty. Bernas for his review.
3. In terms of getting the law passed, Atty. Bernas suggests setting things up so that senators supporting the law are publicly praised and those opposing the law are publicly shamed. This is a key factor in what motivates them to do things, especially before 2010 elections.
4. Access to information is not enough. The law require actively disseminating / publishing information. People should be able to find key info publicly without having to ask for it.
Full notes attached as an excel file to this discussion.
- Attachments:
About
Badge
© 2009 Created by Pippo B on Ning. Create a Ning Network!
