Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan (Facebook)

Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan wants the Philippines to follow the examples set by Brazil and Finland when it comes to involving the country's citizens in the legislative process. 

Yamsuan said crowdsourcing proposals from common Filipino citizens will enable the Congress to determine their most pressing needs and concerns. 

He said crowdsourcing legislation is not a new concept, as this has already been proposed more than a decade ago by former Senator Teofisto Guingona III in the 15th Congress. 

In the global legislative landscape, Brazil has pioneered citizen involvement in the lawmaking  process through its Internet Bill of Rights. On a limited scale, Finland and Iceland have also allowed citizens to comment and provide suggestions through digital platforms on how to improve traffic laws. 

The solon said crowdsourcing will complement insights gathered during committee hearings from resource persons and experts whose assessments may not always reflect the true sentiments and views of the sector they represent. 

This innovative approach aims to enhance democracy in the country by making the lawmaking process more inclusive and transparent, Yamsuan said. 

“Our goal is to strengthen people’s participation in the legislative process.  Through technology, we can democratize the way we craft laws. Maari ng makilahok ang ating mga mamamayan sa pagbalangkas ng batas. (Our citizens can take part in making laws). They can  reach  out to  Congress via the Internet to air their views and proposals  on pending bills or enacted laws,” he explained. 

“Citizen involvement in the legislative process through crowdsourcing would provide lawmakers with independent,  unbiased inputs on existing laws and pending measures. With valuable inputs from fellow citizens, we can pass laws that are more effective and more responsive to their needs,” added the rookie legislator. 

Yamsuan has co-authored House Bill (HB) No.303 which aims to create this crowdsourcing platform. 

Under Yamsuan’s proposal, the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) shall create an online platform where people can start a campaign or an electronic petition  to review, amend, repeal or create a law. 

Once a proposed crowdsourced measure reaches 300,000 verified signatures, the bill mandates the PLLO to forward it to the respective chairpersons of the appropriate committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives for further action.