AMID issues concerning the public disclosure of official government files, a lawmaker urged fellow representatives in the House to support the passage of a bill institutionalizing the People’s Freedom of Information Act in order to guarantee every Filipino citizen’s access to government records.
“Public officials should not fear the disclosure of government records,” said Cong. Nathan Oducado of 1Tahanan Partylist, who filed House Bill No. 8744 on March 24, 2026. “This is true for all positions, including both the President and the vice president.”
HB 8744, called the “People’s Freedom of Information Act,” makes it easier for the public to access information, requires the government to share budgets, contracts, and the financial statements of top officials, and punishes those who wrongly deny or destroy public records.</sent
“Many citizens do not know that they already have a constitutional right to information, but without a clear process, that privilege is useless in real life,” Oducado explained. “Corruption grows in darkness, and this bill turns on the lights by giving ordinary Filipinos the legal power to ask, know, and verify how their government works.”
According to Oducado, people should not need connections inside an office just to see how public money is spent, which has been one of the most common complaints by those who have been seeking access to SALNs, government contracts, and other official documents ideally publicized.
“In order for us to move forward from political scandals, moral courage should come from both the people and the officials who intend to serve them,” Oducado stressed. “Public trust is not a given, and the government must do all that it can to earn and preserve it, especially when there are allegations of corruption.”
The bill requires all government agencies to publish key records online monthly, create Freedom of Information Manuals, and respond to citizen requests within fifteen working days subject only to clearly defined exceptions for national security and privacy.
