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Laoag City council Oks session livestreaming

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By Dominic Dela Cruz
Staff reporter
Laoag City—Moving along with today’s new technology, the Sangguniang Panlungsod here is set to livestream its sessions.

Laoag Councilor Roque C. Ablan, main author of the ordinance said this aims to “provide accurate information in real time to the public” on what is transpiring at the plenary during the council’s regular sessions

He also cited Section 28, Article II of the 1987 Constitution, which states: “The State shall adopt and implements a policy of full public disclosure of all its transactions involving public interest, subject to reasonable conditions prescribed by law”.

He then added that the move is also to recognize the fundamental role of “free and open exchange of information in a democracy meant to enhance transparency and accountability in government official acts, transactions or decisions”.

Under the 2016 Internal Rules of Procedures, particularly Section 30 of Rule V of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP), it provides that SP sessions or meetings of any committee shall be open to the public. This encourages the people listen to the proceedings and provide immediate constructive feedbacks to the members of the SP to further enhance or improve legislative measures.

Mr. Ablan stated that the ordinance supports President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s Executive Order No. 2 issued on July 23, 2016 entitled “Operationalizing in the Executive Branch the People’s Right to Information and the State of Policies to Full Public Disclosure and Transparency in the Public Service and Providing Guidelines Thereof”.

The Laoag council earlier approved the Laoag City FOI Ordinance of 2017, in support of the president’s EO.

The planned livestreaming covers all regular and special sessions, committee hearings and other proceedings of the SP, unless the council decides on a closed session or ordered by an affirmative vote of majority for reasons of security, decency of morality; or for reasons affecting the dignity of the Sanggunian or any of its members or when they discuss confidential matters.

The proposed measure also calls on the presiding officer to inform the body if the proceedings are already on a livestream.

Should the livestream face technical difficulties, the council can upload the video and/or audio recording of the proceedings immediately after the session.

Laoag vice mayor and council presiding officer Michael V. Fariñas said he favors the proposal. He explained that the livestreaming of council sessions will help the public in understanding the issues they are tackling.

Laoag mayor Chevylle V. Fariñas, meanwhile, said she “respects the wisdom of the city council regarding the ordinance for transparency”.

She added that the city already included a budgetary allocation in the council’s budget for next year for this purpose.


Laoag Liga ng mga Barangay president and ex-officio councilor Mary Michelle Louise “Mikee” V. Fariñas and councilor Justine Clarence Chua co-sponsored the ordinance.
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