2 June 2014

Social Action Director

Arch/Diocesan Social Action Center
Dear Social Action Director,
Greetings from CBCP-NASSA!
"my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge." - Hosea 4:6
We would like to invite you and your Diocese/ communities and colleagues to join us and the Right
2 Know. Right Now! (R2KRN) Coalitions Freedom of Information (FOI) Campaign.
The lack of access to information has long been perpetuating failure of access of the poor sectors
and communities to the government services meant for them and hindering their development, as
well as provide the tendency for corruption as there is no legal obligation to reveal processes or
data. The long struggle to call for a law that guarantees right to information has reached the peak of
being declared a priority, but still failed to move on in the last 15
th
Congress. Still the R2KRN
continues to be hopeful that it can be passed in the current 16
th
Congress.
In the past 4 years during President Aquinos administration, the discussion and debate on the
provisions of FOI and other national protection issues have already been resolved, and there is
already a consensus about the importance of FOI as reflected in the Open Data/ Open Government
program being proposed. Yet, there is still a need for a formal legislation to guarantee the rights of
ordinary people needing information relevant to their right to development and basic needs. The
President has already recognized the importance and need for FOI Bill, and for institutionalization of
programs through FOI Bill. We would like to show support for this to push for the passing of the Bill.
To ramp-up the FOI Campaign, we hope for your concrete support and action as follows:
1) Sign, and reach out to your family/ friends/ colleagues/ network/ communities to also sign and
also reach out to their circles, the online signature campaign at:
<https://www.change.org/ph/mga-petisyon/pres-benigno-s-aquino-iii-speaker-feliciano-belmonte-
jr-isabatas-na-ang-people-s-foi-peoplesfoinow>
or
<https://www.change.org/TayoNaParaSaFOI>
The online petition runs until mid-July 2014.
2) Join and promote the coordinated/ simultaneous sign-on activity or Launching on
Tuesday, 10 June 2014, to generate a sizeable turn-out public awareness of the campaign.
Media coverage, making it high profile, multi-sectoral, broad and nationwide will be much
appreciated.
It can be simultaneous online signing on that day, or through the standard form attached
(10 sheets per set) for those with no internet access or email address, and/ or organize sign-up
tables/ booth for collection of signatures. Only signatures from these forms will be included.
Please return as stated in the forms.
The Coalition is willing to send volunteers to coordinate and assist your booth set up and other
matters. Volunteers from your network for other booths are also welcome. You are also
encouraged to identify/ offer sign-on sites (multi-sectoral and geographic) and coordinate with
the Coalition.
3) Mobilize your media network (Television, radio, print and online media) to coordinate with the
R2KRN Coalitions media groups.
4) There will also be a meeting with Secretary Lacierda on integrating Open Data principles in FOI
with schedule to be advised. The Coalition supports this and will monitor how they propose to
do it. Interested parties from R2KRN member organizations and signature campaign partners
can submit names at soonest possible.
NASSA identified Parishes/ Dioceses (through DSACs), religious (through AMRSP) and Catholic
schools (through CEAP and MAPSA) as main/ strategic partners. We therefore approach you to
invite you to sign the online campaign (<https://www.change.org/ph/mga-petisyon/pres-benigno-s-
aquino-iii-speaker-feliciano-belmonte-jr-isabatas-na-ang-people-s-foi-peoplesfoinow>) and to
encourage your network and friends to do the same, up to mid-July.
As an influential institution with wide constituencies and network, we hope that you can also
organize a campaign among your offices, network and schools to raise awareness on the campaign
and take concrete action. The attached form is also for those with no internet access or no email
address.
There will be a formal launching of the campaign on Tuesday, 10 June 2014, simultaneously at
different spots and you can be part of it. Volunteers from the R2KRN Coalition are willing to assist
and help your signature tables. Please let us know (nassa.communication@gmail.com and
edcalguyano@yahoo.com). Online signature is on-going, but we hope to have a bigger swell of
signatures on June 10, and collect all signatures by middle of July.
The signatures to be gathered from the online petition and sign-on petitions will be presented to
President Aquino and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. one week before the State of the
Nation Address (SONA) in July.
Looking forward to your support at personal, family/ friends, institutional and community levels!
We should not overlook the fact that those who for whatever reason lack access to social media
run the risk of being left behind. Pope Francis, 48
th
World Communications Day.
Sincerely in Christ,
FR. EDWIN A. GARIGUEZ
Executive Secretary
+ ROLANDO J. TRIA TIRONA, OCD, DD
Chair, Episcopal Commission for Social Action Justice and Peace