Bill wants city, town councils to livestream their sessions
To promote transparency and public participation in local governance, a House bill wants city and town councils—known in Filipino as Sangguniang Bayan—to livestream their sessions on the various social media platforms.
Kabayan Rep. Ron Salo filed House Bill No. 11294, or the draft Live Streaming of Sangguniang Bayan Sessions Act, citing the technologies now available to make such proceedings accessible online.
“In a democratic country like ours, enhancing accessibility, inclusivity, and openness in governmental processes is imperative,” Salo said. “Livestreaming legislative sessions fosters transparency and ensures that public officials are held accountable.”
“This initiative modernizes governance, ensuring it evolves alongside today’s technological advancements. Livestreaming local legislative sessions not only combats misinformation but also fosters an informed and engaged citizenry,” he added.
Early examples
“(This bill) underscores the importance of using digital technology to bring governance closer to the people, setting a higher standard for public service in the Philippines.”
The lawmaker cited as examples the House and Senate public hearings that are now livestreamed both by government media outfits and private news organizations.
Salo also lauded two local government units (LGUs)—Isabela City and Laoag City—for being among the first in the country to livestream their council deliberations.
If passed, the bill will amend Republic Act No. 7160, or the Local Government Code of 1991, to make it mandatory for cities and municipalities to livestream the sessions on their official online channels.
They will also be required to have the videos archived for future public access.
Exempted from livestreaming are council sessions dealing with matters considered sensitive and requiring confidentiality, based on parameters set in the Code.
