The Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill, if enacted into law, would give the public access to government records. Article III, Section 7 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides: "The right of the people to information on matters of public concern shall be recognized. Access to official records, and to documents and papers pertaining to official acts, transactions, or decisions, as well as to government research data used as basis for policy development, shall be afforded the citizen, subject to such limitations as may be provided by law." In opposition to the recent events regarding the multi-billion-peso pork barrel scam and the corruption that has been existing in our government for who knows how long, it is high time for the enactment of the FOI Bill. With this law, we, Filipinos, can have the power to actively participate in the monitoring of how our government spends our money. It is time that we push for transparency in our government and accountability in our public officials. It is time we give the FOI Bill the urgency that it deserves.

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