WITH an overwhelming 284 affirmative votes, the House of Representatives on Tuesday night approved on third and final reading a landmark measure that would give Filipinos broader access to government records, spending documents, contracts and decision-making processes, while requiring agencies to proactively disclose information of public interest.
Lawmakers approved House Bill (HB) No. 9397, or the proposed Right to Information (RTI) Act of 2026, under the leadership of Speaker Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III and House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” A. Marcos.
Both Dy and Marcos are among the principal authors of the measure, together with Committee on Public Information Chair Lordan Suan and Committee on Appropriations Chair Mikaela Angela Suansing.
According to Marcos, the measure seeks to strengthen transparency and accountability in government by transforming public access to information from a constitutional principle into an enforceable statutory right.
“The right to information is a constitutional right that empowers citizens to participate meaningfully in governance, demand accountability from public officials and strengthen democratic institutions,” Marcos said.
If enacted into law, the measure would establish a comprehensive framework allowing citizens to access official records, contracts, expenditures, policy documents, research data and other information used by government agencies in making decisions that affect the public.
The bill would cover the executive, legislative and judicial branches, constitutional commissions, government-owned and controlled corporations, state universities and colleges, local government units and other government instrumentalities.
One of its centerpiece provisions is the creation of an independent Right to Information Commission that would oversee the implementation of the law, hear appeals from denied requests, investigate violations and enforce compliance across government agencies.
The measure would also establish a centralized Online RTI Portal through which citizens may electronically file, monitor and track requests for information, while requiring all government offices to designate dedicated Right to Information Officers and Decision Makers to ensure prompt action on requests.
To promote transparency without requiring citizens to file formal requests, the bill mandates the proactive publication of government budgets, expenditures, procurement contracts, audit findings, annual reports, performance indicators, public programs, utilization of public funds and other records involving public interest.
The proposal likewise seeks to strengthen transparency in government contracting by requiring disclosure of beneficial ownership information involving entities doing business with the government, helping identify the real individuals behind corporations participating in public transactions.
The bill adopts the principle that disclosure is the rule and secrecy the exception. Government agencies seeking to withhold information would be required to prove that the requested records fall under narrowly tailored exemptions involving national security, law enforcement operations, foreign relations, privacy rights or other exceptions recognized by law.
It also introduces a public-interest override provision that would allow disclosure when the public benefit outweighs potential harm, particularly in cases involving corruption, misuse of public funds, abuse of authority, threats to public safety or other matters of significant public concern.
“Transparency is not merely a policy objective. It is a fundamental pillar of public trust. When government information is accessible, citizens are better equipped to make informed decisions and actively participate in nation-building,” Marcos said.
Marcos said the measure also recognizes the demands of modern governance by promoting digitized records management, open-data systems and online platforms that make government information easier to access.
“This measure strengthens transparency while ensuring that legitimate concerns involving privacy, national security and sensitive information remain protected under clearly defined safeguards,” he said.
The bill further imposes administrative, civil and criminal liabilities on officials who unlawfully deny access to information, conceal or destroy public records, provide false information or retaliate against individuals exercising their right to access government information.
“The approval of this bill is a significant step toward a more transparent, responsive and accountable government. It reinforces the principle that public office is a public trust and that information held by government ultimately belongs to the people,” Marcos said.
The measure was also authored by Reps. Brian Raymund Yamsuan, Roy Loyola, Patrick Michael Vargas, Adrian Salceda, Noel “Bong” Rivera, Ferdinand “B1” Beltran, Ryan Recto, Ruth Sakaluran, Rachel Marguerite Del Mar, Ronaldo Puno, Eduardo Rama Jr., Eduardo “Bro. Eddie” Villanueva, Crispin Diego Remulla, Nathaniel Oducado, Brian Poe, Franz Pumaren, Jesus “Jess” Marquez, Leila de Lima, Edgar Erice, Adrian Michael Amatong, Kaka Bag-ao, Jaime Fresnedi, Cielo Krisel Lagman, Alfonso Alfredo “Albee” Benitez, Bienvenido Abante Jr., Omar Vincent Duterte, Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro, Charisse Anne Hernandez, Maria Kristina Jihan Glepa, Joseph Kim Yu, Jeyzel Victoria Yu, Ramil Hernandez, Agatha Paula Aguilar Cruz, Eric Yap, Edvic Yap, Keith Micah “Atty. Mike” Tan, Iris Marie Demesa Montes, Salvador Pleyto, Kristine Singson-Meehan, Eleanor Bulut-Begtang, Juan Carlos “Arjo” Atayde, De Carlo Uy, Miguel Luis Villafuerte, Vincenzo Renato Luigi Villafuerte, and Tsuyoshi Anthony “Hori” Horibata.
Also listed as authors were Reps. Terry Ridon, Antonio Tinio, Sarah Jane Elago, Renee Louise Co, Ma. Nina Francesca Lacson, Eric Olivarez, Elijah Rumbaoa San Fernando, Percival “Perci” Cendaña, Jose Manuel Tadeo “Chel” Diokno, Dadah Kiram Ismula, Anna Victoria Veloso-Tuazon, Ricardo Cruz Jr., Kenneth Gatchalian, Reynante Arrogancia, Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez, Joseph “Jojo” Lara, Albert Garcia, Arnie Fuentebella, Maria Angela Garcia, Joseph Tan, Loreto Amante, Nicanor Briones, Ma. Cristina Talavera Lopez, Florabel Yatco, Sittie Aminah Dimaporo, and Jaime Eduardo Marc Cojuangco.
