Bill filed for public participation in lawmaking through internet

CEBU, Philippines - Believing that the Filipino people should get involved in the legislative process, Senator Teofisto “TG” Guingona III has filed the Crowdsourcing Act of 2013.

“We have to involve the public in crafting laws. Citizens’ participation is important because legislators make laws for the people,” said Guingona who was in Cebu yesterday.

The proposed measure or Senate Bill No. 73 seeks to allow wider participation from the public in the legislative process through the use of information and communications technology.

“Laws are expressions of the people’s dreams, goals and vision. Thus, elected legislators do not necessarily have the monopoly of the processes of determining what policies are good for the nation. A wider public participation in the legislative process will ensure that the nation’s policies truly reflect the needs of our constituents,” he said.

Under the Crowdsourcing Act, the State “will promote and protect the right of the people and their organizations to effective and reasonable participation at all levels of social, political, and economic decision-making.”

Guingona said that this bill will harness the productive and effective power of social media, as well as allow Filipinos across the country and even abroad to participate in the process of law-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,” he said in a separate statement.

The bill allows people to comment on pending bills through email and the internet. It also allows the public to access copies of bills and measures pending before the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Guingona said that the public will be given five days to comment on any legislative measures posted online then comments will form part of the official record.

The proposed measure likewise extends the people’s right of participation to include the ability to reach their representatives in Congress and Senators even during the period of interpellation and debates.

He said that the proposal recognizes and allows the individual and collective power of the people, “with the use of the internet and/or other information and communications system, to contribute to the formulation, improvement, and creation of laws that benefit the entire nation.”

Sen. Guingona emphasized that lawmaking is a shared privilege and duty of legislators and citizens.

Because of this, he believes that Congress has the duty to hear the opinion of people beyond the walls of the Senate or the House of Representatives.

He added that when people are allowed to participate, we have better laws and when people are allowed to participate, we have better people.  (FREEMAN)