(THE MANILA TIMES) SEN. Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada has filed a bill seeking to allow the public to participate in every step of the legislative process, whether to amend or enact new laws, through online platforms.
“Under this proposal, they can participate in the legislative process — from the First Reading, Second Reading, and Third Reading — via crowdsourcing,” Estrada said, referring to his Senate Bill (SB) 2344, or the proposed “Crowdsourcing in Legislative Policymaking Act.”
SB 2344 seeks to enable individuals or groups to utilize crowdsourcing, which is defined as the practice of engaging individuals or groups toward a common goal, often employed for the purpose of innovation, problem-solving or efficiency in the delivery of services.
Through social media or online portals of the Senate and the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO), the public can post or submit their inputs or comments to the committee deliberating on a bill.
After the filing of a bill in the Senate or after the First Reading stage, the public can submit their comments within 15 working days, which shall be part of the inputs to be discussed during the committee deliberations.
Once the bill is reported on the floor during the Second Reading, the public is given three working days to submit their comments, and on the Third Reading, another three working days are allotted to the public for their input.
Estrada said the PLLO website would be tasked to provide an online platform where the public can start a campaign or petition to review, amend, or repeal a law or create a bill, the result of which may be transmitted to any member of both houses of Congress for appropriate action.
The PLLO shall also provide an online crowdsourcing feedback report to inform the proponent/s of the action/s taken.
“During the pandemic, everything became virtual, including the passage of laws wherein we have seen resource persons participate in Senate committee hearings virtually,” the lawmaker said.
Estrada believes that the bill will help broaden the reach of Congress in considering the inputs, suggestions, recommendations, and objections of the people on a particular legislative proposal.
It will also provide channels to help lawmakers prioritize the issues and problems that need to be addressed, solicit ways to solve them, and obtain feedback on the implemented solutions and policies.