The Senate on Monday approved a resolution, urging the House of Representatives, to ratify the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act of 2009.

The resolution expresses the sense of the Senate that the passage of the FoI is important to fully exercise the Constitutional right to information.

It urges the House to ratify the bicameral conference committee report before the sine die adjournment on June 4 “to bring forth a law that will empower our people, and contribute decisively to the transformation of our governance landscape.”

The Senate Resolution No.1565 was introduced by Senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Juan Miguel Zubiri.

The Freedom of Information Act would allow the right of the people to access information on matters of public concern, such as official records and to documents, and papers pertaining to official acts, transactions, decisions, as well as government research data used as basis for policy development.

The Senate approved its version of the bill on December 14, 2009 with 12 senators voting for the measure.

Senators who signed the bill include now President-apparent Sen. Benigno “Noynoy”Aquino III, Joker Arroyo, Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, Enrile, Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Richard Gordon, Gregorio Honasan, Manuel “Lito” Lapid Jr., Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr., Ramon Revilla Jr., and Juan “Migz” Miguel Zubiri.

The House of Representatives failed to ratify the report due to lack of quorum.

The Senate is concerned that failure to pass the measure would put to waste this important advocacy.

Only recently, national and international media organizations, business groups, professionals, and civil society groups clamored for its passage citing its significance in upholding the Constitution’s guarantee of right to information.

Meanwhile, House Speaker Prospero Nograles said Congress may still exercise its legislative function to tackle and pass certain measures pending, including the FoI bill, if it would be able to proclaim a new President by June 15.

In an interview on radio stationrk dZBB, he said the two chambers of Congress may still have June 16 to 18 to do legislative work if the proclamation is done on June 15.

He said that if there be legislative work, it should be done after the canvassing of votes for President and Vice President.

“Yung proposal ko is the day after the proclamation. [my proposal is to have it after the proclamation],” the House leaderf said.

He said that if his proposal would prevail, and there would be a proclamation on June 15,which falls on a Tuesday, the House, as a legislative body, would convene on June 16 and tackle pending bills until June 18, a Friday.

After all, he noted, the 14th Congress still exists until June 30.

Nograles said he already “committed” himself to working for the passage of the FoI bill. He said he will act for it once discussions on it are opened on the floor.

For now, he said Congress cannot tackle the bill yet as it has to focus on the canvassing alone.

Catholic Churches, in several parts of the country, held masses last Sunday afternoon for the swift passage of the measure. (With a report from Gabriel S. Mabutas)