House Speaker Faustino G. Dy III on Thursday welcomed the committee approval of the proposed Right to Information (RTI) Act of 2026, saying the measure would strengthen transparency and help combat corruption.
Dy said institutionalizing public access to government information is key to ensuring accountability.
“When citizens have access to information, they can use it as an effective tool in our fight against corruption. Knowledge is power. When it is within the people’s reach, the government becomes more responsible and careful with every decision it makes,” he said.
He emphasized that transparency is a critical safeguard against abuse of power, noting that access to information enables citizens to scrutinize government actions and hold institutions accountable. “An informed citizenry leads to better governance,” he added.
The House Committee on Public Information, chaired by Cagayan de Oro Rep. Lordan Suan, approved the substitute bill and report. The measure enforces the constitutional right to information while balancing transparency with privacy and national security safeguards.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article.
