CIBAC Party-List Representative Bro. Eddie Villanueva welcomed the final approval of House Bill 9397 or the proposed Right to Information (RTI) Bill in the House of Representatives, describing it as a historic moment in the country’s long-standing effort to institutionalize transparency, accountability, and public participation in governance.
House Bill 9397 is a consolidation of various measures including House Bill No. 634, or the People’s Right to Information Act, which was filed by CIBAC as its first bill in the 20th Congress. CIBAC party-list has consistently pushed for the passage of a Freedom of Information law since the 12th Congress, making transparency and anti-corruption reforms among its longest-running legislative advocacies.
House Bill 9397 establishes a clear and enforceable framework and procedures through which citizens may obtain information from government offices. It creates the legal presumption in favor of transparency and full disclosure while recognizing legitimate concerns involving privacy, national security, and due process through narrowly tailored exceptions.
“The Filipino people have waited long enough. This reform has been pending for generations. Today, we are closer than ever to institutionalizing a culture of openness, accountability, and integrity in government. The Right to Information Bill is a potent preventive weapon against corruption. It is the missing piece in our country’s anti-corruption arsenal,” said Rep. Villanueva, who is a principal author of House Bill 9397.
“For too long, corrupt activities and irregularities have only come to light post-factum or after public funds have already been wasted. With this bill, our anti-corruption efforts will now be pro-active because the mandated full disclosure of all government transactions will prevent corruption from happening in the first place,” said the CIBAC solon.
Further, the CIBAC solon emphasizes that the measure is not only a gain in anti-corruption drive but also a catalyst for economic and democratic progress.
“The Right to Information Bill is more than an anti-corruption measure; its impact will surely spill over and strengthen our economic, anti-poverty, anti-fake news, and pro-democracy policies. The Bill will stimulate economic progress because a transparent and open government will boost investor confidence, level the playing field for economic players, and limit opportunities for corruption and rent-seeking, which will ultimately result to more jobs, more income, and better lives for our people. As an anti-poverty measure, this Bill will ensure that funds, programs, and projects of the government actually reach and benefit marginalized members of society, enabling them to climb out and be uplifted from the miry pit of grinding poverty,” said the CIBAC solon.
“This measure is also a weapon and safeguard against any misinformation, disinformation, manipulation, and deception. Truth and verification will be the rule of the game because information is within everybody’s reach. Lastly, the Right to Information Bill is not merely a bureaucratic principle but a democratic necessity because it will empower citizens to meaningfully participate in governance and public affairs. An informed citizenry is indispensable to a healthy democracy,” added Rep. Villanueva.
With both the House of Representatives and the Senate having approved their respective versions of the measure, Villanueva hopes that the bicameral conference committee will be immediately convened, promptly reconcile the remaining differences, and transmit the final bill to Malacañang for the President’s signature.
“Today, after decades of advocacy for transparency and good governance, we welcome this historic moment. By approving this indispensable bill, we are ushering the country into a new era of governance characterized by reinforced public accountability, strengthened democratic participation, and transparent government processes. The long-awaited reform is now within reach. Let us seize this historic opportunity. I call for the immediate enactment of the Right to Information Bill,” ended the Rep. Villanueva.
