By Dominic Dela Cruz
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.
Comments
Post a Comment