June 30th, 2025
Congressman Raymond Adrian Salceda of Albay’s Third District filed a proposed Freedom of Information Act as part of his first ten legislative measures on the opening day of the Twentieth Congress.
The bill seeks to institutionalize the constitutional right of citizens to access government records and decisions and sets clear procedures, exceptions, and remedies for its exercise. “I think House Bill No. 56 is the first FOI Bill filed in the 20th Congress,” Salceda said Trust begins with transparency. People have to know what their government is up to, Salceda said. If we expect the public to pay taxes, follow the rules, and participate in governance, we have to show them the direction that government is taking.
The measure mandates proactive publication of public documents such as budgets, contracts, audits, and performance targets. It also introduces a legally grounded classification framework for sensitive records and imposes penalties for unjustified denials or delays.
Salceda’s commitment to open governance is grounded in his track record as Mayor of Polangui. Under his leadership, the municipality earned the Seal of Good Local Governance from the Department of the Interior and Local Government three times. The award recognizes excellence in financial administration, disaster preparedness, peace and order, and service delivery. He was also conferred the National Gawad Saka Award this year by the Department of Agriculture as Outstanding Local Government Unit.
The citation honored his efforts to boost farmer productivity, improve market access, and support agri-based livelihoods.
The Freedom of Information bill is part of a broader reform agenda that Salceda unveiled in his first week in Congress.
His first ten bills also include the abolition of regional wage boards in favor of a single national wage standard for private sector workers, the extension of validity periods for Professional Regulation Commission licenses to reduce transaction costs for professionals, and the removal of police and National Bureau of Investigation clearance requirements before a job offer is made.
These are commonsense reforms that remove friction in the lives of ordinary Filipinos, Salceda said. Transparency, labor fairness, and professional dignity should not be difficult things to ask from government. Salceda expressed confidence that these measures will gain support from both the majority and the minority blocs. He emphasized that all are grounded in local experience and national demand.