To enhance transparency, Akbayan Partylist Rep. Chel Diokno urged the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and other government agencies to provide media practitioners with lower fees or even grant free access to public documents intended for journalistic or broadcast purposes.

Diokno issued the pronouncement following reports from journalists about the high cost of accessing SEC records, which they say has become a barrier to investigative reporting and hampers efforts to expose corruption and abuse of power.

WeSolve Foundation Pres. Kenneth Abante revealed during a Senate committee hearing that Rappler journalists had to spend around ₱30,000 to obtain files from the SEC about companies owned by resigned Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Co.

“Journalists play a vital role in uncovering anomalies and promoting accountability. The government should make it easier for them to do their job, instead of serving as an obstacle in their search for truth,” Diokno said.

“Mas mabuting gawing libre ng gobyerno ang pagkuha sa mahahalagang dokumento na may kinalaman sa ginagawa nilang investigative reports. Kung hindi man puwede, dapat magpataw sila ng mas murang singil para makakuha ng kopya ng mga ito,” he added.

Diokno said the government should empower the media to freely access the information they need, as their reports strengthen transparency and accountability among public officials.

The lawmaker said he would study the filing of measures that would institutionalize free or low-cost access to public records for media practitioners, researchers, and watchdog organizations.(30)