House launches own TV channel

THE House of Representatives has launched a dedicated television channel for the broadcast of legislative sessions and hearings.

Congress TV, as it is called, is patterned after the United States CSpan (Cable-Satellite Public Access Network) and other parliamentary broadcast channels in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, where sessions and hearings are broadcast live, unedited and commercial-free.

Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said that the television channel would be a “bridge” that would connect the halls of the lower House to every home, school and Filipino.

“It’s a bridge built on the pillars of transparency, accountability, and inclusivity,” Romualdez said.

He added that Congress TV is the embodiment of the chamber’s commitment to ensure that no Filipino will be left in the dark and that every citizen will be given a “front-row seat” to the legislative process.

“Through this platform, we are tearing down the walls that have long kept the inner workings of the legislature away from public scrutiny.”

Congress TV will be available through the digital TV signal of state-run People’s Television, currently available in Metro Manila, Cordillera, Cebu, Davao, Naga and Guimaras.

People’s Television Network General Manager Analisa Puod said that they are resolving the perennial issues of the network’s signal reach, which is hampering the ratings of its broadcast, including Congress TV.

“[It] is something that we are addressing. Kami dapat ang mauna, na ‘yung analogue transmitters namin mapalitan ng digital. Of course, malaking tulong kung susuportahan kami ng House of Representatives sa pagpapalit ng transmitters (It is something that we are addressing. We should have been at the forefront of the shift from analog to digital transmitters. Of course, it would be a big help if we get support from the chamber),” Puod said.

When Congress is not in session, the channel will air catchup coverage of selected hearings, as well as related programming, while condensed sessions will also be aired on state-owned IBC-13 on Saturdays and Sundays.

The channel begins its fullblown broadcast on January 23, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.