Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No,507

Introduced by Representative Florida P. Robes

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The evolution of information technology nowadays has played a major role for individuals
or groups to air or express one’s own sentiments, feelings, opinions, suggestions and let the whole
world know of the same, so to speak. Foremost of these are social media platforms such as
facebook and instagram where most of the people of the whole world browses at least an hour of
their everyday lives

‘Now, it is the humble submission of the undersigned that the participation of the people in
law-making can be maximized by taking advantage of this information technology advances by
making and creating legal and acceptable means of making them participate by sharing one’s own
comments, sentiments and/or opinions with the end in view of formulating laws for the betterment
of our society in general which can be achieved by the proper use of online media.

With the creation and passage of this law, and with its regulation in accordance with already
existing rules, there is no doubt that the use of social media can be a powerful tool in enacting
future laws for the benefit of the Filipino people and even the whole world

‘Thus, the approval and passage of this bill is being earnestly sought.

FLORIDA P. ROBES


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1507

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative Florida P. Robes

SSS

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A FRAMEWORK FOR CITIZENS PARTICIPATION
IN LEGISLATION AND RULE -MAKING THROUGH THE USE OF INFORMATION
AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY PLATFORMS

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title- This Act shall be known as the “Crowdsourcing Act”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy- The Philippines is a democratic and republican State. Sovereignty
resides in its people and all government authority emanates from them. The State should harness
the potential to consult its citizens from all over the world in all fields of social, economic, and
political discourse, including legislation and rule-making. This principle is extended to the right
of citizens to participate in the legislative process through the use of information and
communication technology platforms.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms- As used in this Act:

a. Congressional Portal refers to the homepage of the Philippine Congress as maintained by
their respective secretariat for purposes of this Act;

b. Crowdsourcing refers to the practice of engaging the individuals or a group for a common
goal, often innovation, problem solving or efficiency in the delivery of services. Powered by new
technologies, social media and the development of the worldwide web 2.0, the individuals or
groups are able to contribute to the formulation, improvement, and creation of laws that are
beneficial to the nation;

c. Information and Communications Technology refers to the totality of electronic means
to access, create, collect, store, process receive, transmit, present and disseminate information,

4. Online refers to a location accessed through a connection to a central computer network or
mobile by citizens anywhere in the world as opposed to a physical location like Congress and the


executive departments and agencies. This include electronic mails, websites, internet for social
media sites, and other such similar media; and

Web 2.0 or the Participative and Social Web refers to the second generation of the
worldwide websites (www) that emphasize user-generated content, ease of use, participatory
culture and inter-operability for end users.

SEC. 4. Crowdsourcing in Legislation Through the Senate and the House of Representatives.
= This Act allows the citizens and the public at large to participate in the legislative process
wherever they are through the internet or mobile platforms. The crowdsourcing process shall be
as follows

a __OnFirst Reading ~ Upon the filing of a national measure, the secretariat of Congress shall
post a copy of the measure and shall give the public fifteen (15) working days, except for bills
certified as urgent by the President, to submit their comments upon referral of the measure on First
Reading. The comments from the public shall be part of the inputs to committee deliberations.

The standing or special committee may incorporate the comments and issue a crowdsourcing
feedback report online to inform the proponent of the action taken by the standing or special
committee.

b. With Committee Report - Upon the submission of a committee report by the concerned
standing or special committee to the Committee on Rules, the public is given three (3) working
days to submit its comments on the measure, except for bills certified as urgent by the President,
before the Committee on Rules includes the report in the Calendar of Business.

©. With Third Reading Copy- Once the measure is approved on Third Reading and before the
Bicameral Conference Committee is convened, the public is given three (3) working days to submit
its comments and the concerned committee shall review the same for consideration at the
conference committee level. Only comments germane to the measure, as amended, shall be
accepted and considered

SEC. 5. Crowdsourcing in Rule-making Through the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office-
This Act allows all citizens and the public at-large to participate in the legislative process through
the legislative liaison system via the internet or mobile platforms.

The homepage of the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) shall serve as the portal for
the department legislative liaison system for crowdsourcing purposes.

The PLLO website shall provide a platform through the internet where people can start a campaign
or petition to review, amend and repeal a law or create a bill, the result of which may be transmitted
to any member of both Houses for appropriate action. The PLLO shall also provide for a
crowdsourcing feedback report online to inform the proponent of the action taken thereto.

SEC. 6. Procedure of Registration. — A citizen who would like to start a campaign or petition
to review, amend and repeal a law or create a bill, shall register online by providing his/her name,


address, e-mail, mobile number and a government-issued ID, consistent with the provisions of the
“Data Privacy Act of 2012."

SEC. 7. Monitoring and Evaluation — There shall be a feedback mechanism that will guide the
post-facto crowdsourcing exercise. This will enable legislators to understand public sentiments for
improved grounding of their legislative duties and to ensure that concerns raised by the public are
acted upon by appropriate entities, The concerned committees shall provide the result of feedback
consultations to a central secretariat of the Management Information Service of both Houses of
Congress and the Office of the President, that will analyze the data for emergent issues and
concerns

SEC. 8 Sunset Review. Six. years from its enactment, Congress shall review and recommend
amendments to this Act to be attuned with development post web 2.0 era and determine if the same
can be implemented in provinces and highly urbanized cities that have adopted open convergence

SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations- Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this
Act, the secretariat of both Houses of Congress and the PLLO shall, in coordination with the
Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and National Economic and
Development Authority (NEDA) promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective
implementation of this Act.

SEC. 10. Separability Clause- In case any provision or part of this Act is declared invalid or
unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC.11. Repealing Clause- All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations which are
inconsistent with any provision of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly

SEC. 12. Effectivity- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official
Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation

Approved,