THE PROJECT REVIEW: Information : Senate Bill 3300

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Information : Senate Bill 3300 - The Crowdsourcing Act of 2012

There are newly coined words that we read or hear but we do not know their meaning. Some are not even listed in the dictionaries yet. One of these new words is "crowdsourcing." What does it mean?

Definition of CROWDSOURCING :
-the practice of obtaining needed services, ideas, or content by soliciting contributions from a large group of people and especially from the online community rather than from traditional employees or suppliers

Origin of CROWDSOURCING :
crowd + outsourcing

First Known Use: 2006
Source : http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/

I first heard the word at a forum where the speaker, Sen. TG Guingona III, was discussing the bill he filed in the Senate, the SB3300 : Crowdsourcing Act of 2012. Initially, I had no idea what he was discussing because the word : crowdsourcing was Greek to me. But I eventually grasped the meaning of the word.

The Crowdsourcing Act of 2012 is definitely not an ordinary bill. It's a simple bill. It is a bill that will allow people to participate in the lawmaking process. The bill aims to promote : transparency, accountability and people participation in the lawmaking process through the use of internet or online technology.

Quoting the first paragraph of the bill :
"Section 1. Purpose of the Law- The Act seeks to allow the people to participate in the legislative process, online and/or with the use of information and communications technology, providing effective and mechanisms therefor."

"The bill would seek to allow citizen participation in the lawmaking process, from the filing of the bill, through the initial public consultations, the debates, up to prior to the bill's approval."[1]

"With the bill now filed at the Senate, Guingona is now calling on citizens to help improve the bill - through crowdsourcing. He is asking Filipinos to give suggestions, comments, and position papers on the bill, through email and social media."[2]

"I know that this first version of the bill is not yet perfect -- and YOU can help improve it," Guingona said in a post on his official page on Facebook.[3]

Now is our chance to directly influence the lawmaking process of our country. Let us help Senator TG Guingona improve the SB 3300 : Crowdsourcing Act of 2012.

Let our voice be heard. Let's participate in the crowdsourcing. Let's support with the Crowdsourcing Act 2012.

When people are allowed to participate, we have better laws. When people are allowed to participate, we have better people. . . . . Sen. TG Guingona III

Click poster to enlarge