Malacañang public petition page coming soon

MANILA, Philippines – The government is planning to establish an online petition platform similar to the White House petition page of the US government.

In line with its efforts to expand and improve the government’s feedback mechanism, the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office will put up an online platform for petitions on the gov.ph website, PCDSPO said.

“Users will be able to log in and post petitions, which will then be open for e-signatures from the public. When a certain signature count is reached, an official response will be posted,” it said.

The PCDSPO said discussions on the design and features of the platform have been made.

The communications group has opened a webpage http://bit.ly/1qcE0wO where the public can provide constructive insights until Nov. 15.

“We are watching out for suggestions regarding the maximum length of a petition and the minimum number of signatories before an official response is warranted. Petitions that are too long might take too long to study and process,” said PCDSPO.

The US government’s official petition page (petitions.whitehouse.gov) allows Americans to create and sign petitions, which will be reviewed by the government once it reaches the signature threshold.

It provides Americans a platform “to engage their government on the issues that matter to them.”

In the Philippines, petition platform Change.org has recently established itself as a venue for the public to rally behind causes and advocacies, such as the passage of legislations pending before Congress.