“People power is not just a one‑time event. It must be nurtured every day in the way we govern and the way we live.”- Pres. Fidel V. Ramos.
In his recent vlog, President Bongbong Marcos admitted that many of our policies are outdated and asked the public to share their suggestions in the comment section of his social media accounts. I think that was a good move. It shows he’s open to hearing from ordinary people. But let’s be honest, comments alone won’t cut it. Proposals and ideas should go beyond the online platforms.
If we really want this to work, there has to be a system that takes those ideas seriously and makes sure they don’t just disappear online. This is where the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) should come in. As the technical (and advisory) arm of the President, the agency is in the best position to set up a mechanism that collects, organizes, and follows through on what people are saying.
Why not a People’s Policy Tracker? Imagine a public dashboard where suggestions are logged, categorized, and monitored. People would not only be able to submit their ideas but also see what happens to them. That way, everyone knows if their proposals are pending, under review, or already being acted on.
This kind of tracker would also help government spot patterns. If hundreds of people are talking about healthcare, education, or transport, then those issues clearly need attention. It’s a way of turning scattered comments into real priorities and helping the administration in budget allocations.
Transparency is the key here. If citizens can see how their input is being handled, it builds trust. It shows that the government is not just listening but actually moving. And when people feel their voices matter, they’re more likely to keep engaging.
The PMS should take the lead here. It can serve as the clearinghouse, making sure valid suggestions reach the right agencies and that updates are reported back. That would turn the President’s call from a social media experiment into a genuine exercise in participatory governance. I hope PMH Head Elaine Masukat and her team have taken note of the President’s pronouncement and are already setting this into motion.
Back in 2024, Senator Jinggoy Estrada filed Senate Bill 2344, the “Crowdsourcing in Legislative Policy Making Act.” And just last year, Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr. also introduced House Bill 303, which seeks to establish a crowdsourcing platform for citizen‑led bills, allowing ordinary Filipinos to directly propose legislation once they gather enough verified support. If Estrada’s measure has not yet been refiled in the 20th Congress, perhaps he should revive it, as it complements Villafuerte’s initiative and strengthens the case for a People’s Policy Tracker.
The President has opened the door. Now it’s up to the PMS and Congress to build the framework that makes sure citizen voices don’t get lost in the noise. A People’s Policy Tracker, paired with legislative crowdsourcing, could be the start of a new chapter where ideas from the people actually shape decisions.
For comments, email jojoterencio@gmail.com
