People's Initiative

Democracy is defined as the rule of the majority and comes in two forms, representative and direct democracy. Direct democracy is initiated thru people's initiative.

An Amended RA 6735 People's Initiative and Referendum Act Will Enable Political Reforms

People's Initiative as Direct Democracy Tool

The concept of direct democracy thru people's initiative is an established legislative process in many advance countries. Peoples Initiatives as a direct democracy tool has been used to legislate new laws by citizens, amend and repeal old laws deemed disadvantageous to public interest and welfare.

Direct Democracy vs. Representative Democracy

In direct democracy the people decide on policies without any intermediary or representative, whereas in a representative democracy people vote for representatives who then enact policy initiatives.

Article XVII, Section 2 of the 1987 Constitution

Amendments to this Constitution may likewise be directly proposed by the people through initiative upon a petition of at least twelve per centum of the total number of registered voters, of which every legislative district must be represented by at least three per centum of the registered votes therein.

The photo above shows the consolidation of Metro Manila and Cebu-based people's initiative proponents working together to scrap the corrupt pork barrel system practiced in both upper and lower chambers of Congress in 2013. The practice continues today with increasing tenacity and greed in violation of the Constitutional provision.

Amendments to RA 6735

• Reduce signature requirements from 10% to 3% to qualify petitions for referendum.

• Remove 3% minimum signature requirements in each legislative district.

• Allow multiple petitions to be filed and consolidated.

• Implementing Rules and Guidelines shall designate all Comelec and LGU offices as signature collection points.

• Designate two days as public discussion of the petitions, one for and the other against, in the designated public area of LGU units i.e. provincial, city, municipal and barangay levels.

• Petitions shall be determined by the Comelec as to the identification and qualifications of the petitioners, correctness of form, legality or constitutionality of the content, the minimum signature requirements of the petition as per jurisdiction, determination of dates and campaign period within 30 working days upon receipt of the proposed petition. Campaign periods shall begin on the date petition is approved by Comelec, plus 120 days for national petitions synchronized with the mid-term elections, regional 90 days, provincial 60 days and municipal up to 30 calendar days.

Deliberative Direct Democracy

Deliberative democracy is a form of direct democracy in which deliberation is central to decision-making. It adopts elements of both consensus decision-making and majority rule. The primary source of legitimacy for the law is authentic deliberation and not voting.

Participatory Direct Democracy

A Landsgemeinde, "cantonal assembly", in the canton of Glarus on 7 May 2006, Switzerland. Landsgemeinden are public voting gatherings, and are one of the oldest examples of direct democracy.