Yamsuan pushes citizen participation in lawmaking

Representative Brian Raymund Yamsuan wants Filipinos to take an active part in the legislative process by allowing them to submit proposals via digital platforms on reviewing, amending, repealing or creating laws.

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

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,” Yamsuan said.

“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,” he added.

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.

Yamsuan has co-authored House Bill 303 which aims to create this crowdsourcing platform.

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.

Yamsuan 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.