The electorate should pressure their respective representatives to pass the freedom of information bill (FOI) before the House of Representatives goes on a four-month break for the 2013 elections, a Congress leader said on Thursday.

House Assistant Majority Leader Sherwin Tugna of Citizens Battle Against Corruption party-list, made the call considering that there are only nine session days left before Congress goes on a long hiatus, because it has to give way to the campaign period and the 2013 elections.

Congress resumes on January 21, but will again adjourn on February 8 because of the campaign period.

“We need to compel our representatives to attend the remaining session days in Congress. We need critical mass if we want the FOI bill passed. Change is not just about voting for your representative. Part and parcel of that is to also make sure that they fulfill their respective oaths,” Tugna, a lawyer, pointed out.

The bill, or House Bill 53, implements the right of the people to information on matters of public concern and the state policy of full public disclosure of all its transactions involving public interest, including mandatory posting of statement of assets, liabilities and networth (SALN) of public officials, as well as access to information being used for decision making, or project management as well as transcripts and minutes of official meetings.

The measure is yet to be sponsored in the House plenary. The Congress, with 285 members, needs at least 144 lawmakers to show up for a quorum in plenary session to be able to transact business and act on pending bills.

While the House can proceed with its duties without a quorum, the session will be stopped once somebody questions the absence of a quorum.

Tugna cited that a good number of legislators have accounts in social media in Facebook and Twitter, making them more accessible to the public’s scrutiny.

“A lot of our lawmakers can be reached by a simple click. We should take advantage of this and tell them to report during plenary session, stick to their mandate of legislating laws that would bring about change, accountability and good governance,” Tugna added.