Philippines' Lower Chamber fails to pass Freedom of Information bill

The Philippine House of Representatives on Friday failed to ratify a bill that will require greater transparency from government officials because of lack of quorum.

Of the required 135 lawmakers, only 128 were present on Friday or the last session day of the 14th Congress.

"There is nothing I can do, but to bang the gavel. There is no quorum, that's the rule. I have done everything I could, I called and texted everybody to come, everybody has been asked to be here," House Speaker Prospero Nograles said.

The Freedom of Information bill allows more transparency in government as it will set the implementing rules of a constitutional provision guaranteeing public access to all records of state transactions, deliberations and policies.

Failure to have it ratified would mean that the lawmakers, who have been pushing for bill, will have to re-sponsor the filing of separate bills before the Senate and the Lower Chamber in the next Congress, which will open on July 26.

Source: Xinhua