Introduction: A Bold Idea from the Civic Tech community
What happens when a group of developers and volunteers decides to rebuild one of the country’s most essential digital interfaces? In the Philippines, the project Bettergov.ph emerged from a mix of frustration with aging government portals and a desire for more transparent, citizen-friendly governance. A fundraiser of sorts, a hackathon spirit, and a belief in open-source collaboration came together to propose a “better” version of the existing gov.ph portal. The creator, Jason Torres, a developer once based in the United Kingdom, described the initiative as both a critique and a call to action.
From a Silly Idea to a Growing Movement
Torres recounts how the project started as a simple personal ambition: to “make a better gov.ph website.” What began as a side project quickly evolved into a broader movement, attracting volunteers and supporters. He notes that the current portals for gov.ph, the Senate, and the House of Representatives often look outdated and lack what he calls “love” for modern user experience. With Bettergov.ph, the aim is not just cosmetic polish but functional improvements—transparency, accessibility, and ongoing civic engagement.
The project operates with a modest budget—roughly PHP 3,000 to create—and, crucially, incurs no cost to Filipino citizens. The ethos behind Bettergov.ph is not to replace the government but to empower citizens to demand better interfaces, better data, and better governance through open collaboration.
The Movement Grows: Volunteers, Ideas, and a Shared Mission
What started with four volunteers has blossomed into a community of about 75 volunteers, with people from both government and private sectors signaling interest in contributing. Torres emphasizes autonomy: the project does not seek permission to improve civic tech. Instead, it aims to “take matters into our own hands” and encourage a culture of open collaboration.
Bettergov.ph isn’t solely about redesigning existing portals. It envisions a broader ecosystem—one where civically minded technology projects proliferate and receive support. The site invites ideas from the public, including proposals for:
- Transparency projects and clearer presentations of government data
- New visualizations that make data more accessible to diverse industries
- A system to rate politicians and a “Glassdoor for government agencies” for user reviews
- A blockchain-backed government reporting app to track and monitor projects with transparency and accountability
How the Community Can Contribute
Contributions are welcome via a Discord channel, with an open invitation for citizens to submit ideas and for experts to share resources. Torres notes invitations from both the public sector and the private sector to participate in the project’s growth. The core value proposition is clear: build, share, and empower.
Beyond building a single site, the initiative seeks to cultivate a culture that supports multiple civic-tech projects. The plan includes mentoring, sharing APIs and data endpoints, organizing hackathons, and linking participants with mentors who can guide projects from concept to implementation. The long-term hope is to create a sustainable model for open-source, public-facing government technology that remains independent yet deeply engaged with real-world needs.
What This Means for Citizens and Governance
At its heart, Bettergov.ph is a response to citizen anger over corruption and inefficiency in public projects. It positions technology as a tool for accountability—an ally in the ongoing quest for better governance. For citizens, the movement promises more accessible government information, clearer data Visualizations, and practical channels to influence how public information is presented and utilized. For technologists, it presents a platform to apply skills toward social impact—without waiting for top-down reform to arrive.
Looking Ahead
Torres’ stance is unmistakable: leadership should come from the grassroots, with open-source, public, high-quality sites as the target. Whether Bettergov.ph evolves into a government-backed project or remains a powerful external watchdog, its emphasis on collaboration, transparency, and citizen empowerment is a notable experiment in modern governance. If it proves sustainable, scalable, and truly useful, this grassroots model could inspire similar efforts across jurisdictions, turning local anger into constructive, tech-enabled action.
Conclusion
Can a website improve government? Bettergov.ph argues yes—by mobilizing volunteers, harnessing open data, and encouraging ongoing civic-tech innovation. It’s a movement built on urgency, openness, and a practical belief that people can build better public services when given the tools, the data, and the platform to collaborate.
