e-Congress to encourage people participation in lawmaking’

MANILA, Philippines — The launching of the country’s e-Congress – comprising the Senate and House of Representatives – marks the culmination of a new and unprecedented digital era, where netizens can participate in lawmaking, according to Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.

“It is our vision to make e-Congress a key contributor in modernizing our core legislative processes towards a people-centered legislative governance and in enhancing our adherence to the democratic principles of transparency, accountability and responsiveness,” Romualdez said on Friday.

“e-Congress will also provide updates on the status of bills and resolutions and report legislative undertakings to inform the public and encourage citizen participation,” the leader of the 312-member lower legislative chamber added.

Romualdez, representing the first district of Leyte, also said e-Congress represents the “synergy” between the Senate and the House in their common aspiration to digitize their processes, services and records, and share information.

Aside from amplifying the capacity of government organizations, ensuring greater transparency and deterring corruption, the system also serves as a mechanism for public information to promote citizen engagement in policy-making.

The Speaker likewise reminded the public that the need for the entire government to digitalize, harmonize and share government records across departments and agencies was mentioned by President Marcos in his first State of the Nation Address in July 2022.

“In response to this call, the House of Representatives, along with the Senate, now jointly establish and maintain an integrated and secure digital legislative management system for the Congress of the Philippines,” Romualdez said.

He said such challenges highlighted the role of Congress in making relevant, responsive and timely legislation to meet the administration’s targets and “to raise the quality of public service, particularly lawmaking, representation and oversight functions of the legislative branch of government, ensuring that our laws consistently reflect our values, principles and aspirations as Filipinos.”

“To carry out this crucial role, it is imperative that both houses of Congress exercise constant collaboration, coordination and sharing of information towards people-centered legislative governance,” he said.

The Speaker said e-Congress would use information and communications technology and other digital means of facilitating the delivery of services. –  Cecille Suerte Felipe