Senate Passes Freedom of Information Bill, Expands Public Access to Government Records

The Senate has passed the People’s Freedom of Information Act, a landmark bill designed to make government information more accessible to the public. Approved on May 4, 2026, the bill aims to expand public access to official government records, documents, and research data, a step that would strengthen transparency across all branches of government.

Senate Bill No. 1432 builds on Executive Order No. 2, which was issued by former President Rody Duterte. While the executive order currently only applies to agencies under the Executive branch, the new law would broaden the scope to include the Legislative and Judicial branches, as well as constitutional bodies, local governments, government-owned corporations, and state universities and colleges (SUCs).

A key provision of the bill requires high-ranking officials, such as the President, Vice President, Cabinet members, and members of Congress, to publicly disclose their annual statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALNs) on official government websites. The bill also mandates that government agencies post documents related to public interest, such as budget expenditures, bidding contracts, procurement plans, and significant debts or contracts (those worth P50 million or more), on their websites.

However, the bill specifies that certain types of information will remain confidential, including those related to national security, defense, law enforcement, and foreign affairs, as well as information protected by presidential communications privilege or executive sessions of Congress.

The People’s Freedom of Information Act, sponsored by Sen. Robin Padilla and authored by Sen. Joel Villanueva, aims to empower Filipino citizens by providing them with the tools to engage more actively in public governance. Once signed into law, the measure is expected to significantly improve transparency and accountability in government dealings.