A bill allowing the general public to participate in the legislative process has been filed in the Senate. 

Estrada in filing Senate Bill No. 2344 or the proposed Crowdsourcing in Legislative Policymaking Act, proposes allowing the public to participate in every step of lawmaking, whether to amend or enact new laws, through online platforms. 

“Sa ilalim ng panukalang ito, maaari silang lumahok sa legislative process – mula sa First Reading, Second Reading at Third Reading – sa pamamagitan ng crowdsourcing (Under this bill, the people can participate in the legislative process—from the First Reading, Second Reading and Third Reading—through crowdsourcing,” Estrada said. 

Crowdsourcing is defined as the practice of engaging individuals or a group towards a common goal, often at 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), Estrada said any individual can post or submit their inputs or comments to the committee deliberating on a bill.

Under the bill, the public can submit their comments within 15 working days after the filing of a particular measure in the Senate or after the First Reading stage. 

Once the measure is reported on the floor during the Second Reading of the measure, the public is given three working days to submit their comments; another three working days are allotted to the public for their inputs after the Third Reading.

Also under the bill, the PLLO website will 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, before the results may be transmitted to any member of both houses of Congress for appropriate action. 

The PLLO, Estrada said, shall also provide an online crowdsourcing feedback report to notify the proponent/s of the action/s taken on a particular measure.

“Noong kasagsagan ng pandemya, naging virtual ang lahat, pati ang pagpapasa ng batas at dito nakita natin na lumalahok ang mga resource persons sa mga pagdinig sa Senado o committee hearings (During the pandemic, everything was done virtually including the passage of laws and here we can see resource persons participating in the Senate or committee hearings),” he explained.

Thus, Estrada said, he 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 that will help lawmakers prioritize the issues and problems that need to be addressed, solicit ways on how to solve them, and obtain feedback on the implemented solutions and policies,” he said.