Kabataan Partylist Representative Raymond Palatino urged the House of Representatives to use internet live streaming technology to broadcast every committee hearings and plenary sessions through House Resolution No. 271.

Palatino filed HR 271 today stating that “one of the best ways to afford the People their right to information and to promote transparency and accountability among public officers is to allow the public to actually witness public proceedings undertaken by government agencies.”

Palatino said, “Using live streaming in the internet gives a good alternative to people who can’t be physically present during sessions and hearings. With this, we are able to reach and empower 30 million or one third of Filipinos who are using the internet today to their right to information.”

The young lawmaker said that the House may “broadcast all proceedings in Congress at very minimal cost” given that television and radio, be it government or commercial, have limited time to air all the proceedings and is costly. Apart from that, committee hearings also happen simultaneously.

He added, “granted such a wide reach, and given the very minimal cost and the ease of implementation of internet live streaming broadcast, the House of Representatives has few reasons not to take the opportunity to be of greater service to its public.”

“We should learn to maximize today’s fads into vessels of good governance and transparency,” said Palatino.

A similar resolution has been proposed last week in the Senate by Senator Francis Pangilinan.

“The House must also consider that apart from creating laws, we are accountable to the people. The people should see what happens inside the House and our initiative should pave the way for that,” he said. ###