Focus on the Global South-Philippines

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Activity Updates

September 2010 - Launch of the maiden issue of the Focus on the Global South Policy Review

September 19 - In Malaysia will be held the forum called "Regional Strategy Meeting on Emerging Social and Cultural Concerns in ASEAN: Climate Change, South East Asian Peoples’ Right to Information, Labor Migration and Domestic Work and Platforms for Civil Society Engagement with the ASEAN." Focus Philippines will make a presentation on "Building a Case for an ASEAN Protocol on Freedom of Information"

September 23 - 26 - Asean People's Forum in Hanoi, Vietnam. Fore more information, please send inquiries to the following: <apfhanoi-pc@aseanpeoplesforum.net>, <apfhanoi-ws@aseanpeoplesforum.net>. Ms Dorothy Guerrero, who is in the Bangkok office of Focus, seats in the Program Committee.

September 27 - October 1 - Freedom of Information Advocacy Week

September 23 - FOI Forum

September 27 - R2KRN will visit the Senate to renew the FOI campaign

September 28 - R2KRN will meet with Representatives of the Lower House

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Focus condemns the impunity of the Ampatuan Massacre, and joins the nation's call for justice.

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Letter to Speaker Nograles

Note: We encourage everyone to send, fax, e-mail this letter to House Speaker Nograles to make known to him the depth of support behind the ratification and signing into law of the Philippine Freedom of Information bill and how important for civil society organizations and citizens to have this FOI law.

PROSPERO C. NOGRALES
Speaker of the House
House of Representatives
Republic of the Philippines

Dear Speaker Nograles:

As the 14th Congress winds down there is an opportunity for the House of Representatives under your leadership to make its mark in history by ratifying the Freedom of Information bill. The FOI bill is in your legislative agenda and could be your legacy to the Philippines. Many congressmen have worked hard in crafting a landmark bill, a fact that you acknowledged, and it would give life to the constitutional guarantee. In a statement released in April 2008, you said:

"When there is full public disclosure of all government transactions involving public interest, subject to limitations under the proposed Act, the people will have full confidence and trust in their public officials and therefore there will be effective governance."

The Political Crisis in Thailand Democracy, Power, People

Focus on the Global South – Philippines Programme

invites you to deliberate these questions with us,

explore parallelisms and draw lessons for the Philippines.

The Political Crisis in Thailand

Democracy, Power, People

A Roundtable Discussion

Friday, 28 May 2010, 5:30 p.m.

Balai Kalinaw, University of the Philippines

Diliman, Quezon City

SPEAKERS

Ms. Ubonrat Siriyuvasak

Deputy Dean, Research and International Affairs, Faculty of Communication Arts

Chulalongkorn University, Thailand

Mr. Surawut Pratoomraj

Human Rights Defender/Trainer

The Coordinating Committee of Human Rights Organization of Thailand

Rep. Walden Bello

Akbayan Citizens' Action Party

Author, A Siamese Tragedy: Development and Disintegration in Modern Thailand

(London: Zed, 1998)

Moderator

Ms. Jenina Joy Chavez

Focus on the Global South

For more information, contact Lou Torres at or +63 2 4330899

International Endorsement for Freedom of Information Bill in the Philippines

23 May 2010

Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
President
Republic of the Philippines

Hon. Juan Ponce Enrile
President of the Senate
Republic of the Philippines

Hon. Prospero Nograles
Speaker of the House of Representatives
Republic of the Philippines

In a few weeks, the Philippines will see a newly elected government formally proclaimed. We congratulate the Philippines for the orderly conduct of the recently concluded national elections.

Before the government is formally turned over to new leadership, there is one crucial act that we, organizations and individuals from around the world, would like to support your leadership on. As advocates of freedom of expression, of the press, and of information, we have been following closely the Philippine movement for the passage of the Freedom of Information Act. We view the adoption of legislation giving effect to the right to information as fundamental to the respect of all human rights, as well as to democracy. Transparency in the public sector enables meaningful participation, promotes accountability, mitigates corruption, and contributes to the realization of personal and collective goals.