Crowdsourcing: People’s power over traffic – Guingona

MANILA, Philippines - The public should be given the chance to help the government consider solutions to traffic woes in Metro Manila and other congested cities, re-electionist Sen. Teofisto Guingona III said recently.

In a statement, Guingona noted that transportation officials should be open to “crowdsourcing” suggestions on how to improve vehicular and pedestrian traffic regulations in metropolitan areas.

“People who spend hours in their cars or commute daily are in a good position to share their observations and offer suggestions. They should be given the chance to be heard, and there should be a suitable and appropriate platform for their suggestions to be conveyed to government officials,” said Guingona.

In the 16th Congress, Guingona authored the proposed Crowdsourcing Act of 2013, which would have allowed netizens, social media users and all those with Internet access to participate before, during and after the lawmaking process. This way, lawmakers can be guided by their constituents on how to improve proposed legislation.

The bill, Guingona said, would have paved the way for “effective and reasonable participation at all levels of social, political and economic decision-making.”

“Crowdsourcing is an expression of the belief that despite our geographical separation, people can still participate in national affairs through the borderless world of the Internet,” Guingona said.

He said transportation officials should consider a “social experiment” that harnesses the power of the Internet in finding solutions to urban traffic woes.

He added that the national government has nothing to lose by listening more attentively to the people who endure traffic daily either as motorists, passengers or commuters.

“Actively solicit suggestions from the public using the Internet. In the same manner, every proposed regulation should be posted online first, so that people may comment on them and offer their thoughts. Let us use emails and blogs and online chat rooms and other available avenues to consult stakeholders regarding traffic issues,” Guingona said.

Under Guingona’s proposed Crowdsourcing Act, people will be allowed to comment on pending bills, which will all be made available online. At the same time, lawmakers may be accessed online during periods of interpellations and debates.

Guingona was the only one out of 24 senators who voted against the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. He also questioned before the Supreme Court the legality of some provisions of the law.