CALOOCAN CITY, Aug. 20 (PIA) -- The proposed Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and the Media Workers' Welfare Bill now has additional allies from both houses of Congress, an official said today.

During Thursday's edition of the Network Briefing News on Radyo Pilipinas hosted by Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar, FOI Executive Director and PCOO Assistant Secretary Kris Ablan said both measures now also get the backing of at four senators and a ranking representative.

"Umuusad na po ang aming pagsusulong ng FOI Bill sa Senado at Kongreso. Kasabay din nito ang pagsusulong ng Media Workers' Welfare Bill na pinapangunahan po ni Undersecretary Joel Egco ng Presidential Task Force on Media Security," Ablan said in their efforts to institutionalize access to information at all the three branches of government.

"We had online courtesy calls with the offices of Senator Bong Go, Senator Joel Villanueva, and Senator Bong Revilla, as well as House Majority Leader Ferdinand Martin Romualdez to formally endorse the FOI Bill and the Media Workers Welfare Bill," he added.

To recall, the FOI was first filed during the 12th Congress in 2014, but it has been bypassed.

In December 2019, Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas filed House Bill 05776 also known as the FOI Act of 2019, which has adopted the features proposed by the PCOO.

Among the salient features of the bill, the PCOO said, are crafting a mechanism that will refer and transfer requests to appropriate agencies that should address the said request, and creation of a records management system.

Likewise, an oversight body or the FOI Commission will also be established, along with the creation of a central appeals and review committee or CARC for all FOI compliant agencies in the three major branches of the government-Executive, Legislative, and Judiciary.

Moreover, the Office of the Ombudsman will also have the power to review the decisions from the CARC.

On the other hand, House Bill No. 2476, also known as the Media Workers' Welfare Act filed in 2019, ensures capacity in availing housing programs, regular employment, job security, and health benefits for those in the field of mass media.

"Ang aming opisina ay in close coordination po sa kani-kanilang legislative teams to take strategic actions to lobby for the FOI Bill and the Media Workers Welfare Bill in both houses," Ablan said.

He, meanwhile, urged the public to support their online petition for the said measure.

"Kaugnay po nito, naglunsad po ang FOI PMO ng online campaign for our citizens to support FOI Bill. Join us in our advocacy and sign the petition. You can know more about our campaign in our Facebook Page FOI Philippines," Ablan added. (PIA NCR)