Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3238
House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative Florida P. Robes

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The evolution of information technology nowadays have 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.

FLORJDA P. ROBES:


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3238

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative Florida P. Robes

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;


d. 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

e. Web 2.0 or the Participative and Social Web refers to the second generation of the
world wide 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 On First 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.

c. _ 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 concemed 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 concems 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 Gazeie or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,