Manila:Filipinos now have the opportunity to watch Senate hearings, plenary debates, and legislative proceedings in their entirety via a newly launched dedicated television channel. This initiative provides the public with direct access to the Senate's activities without relying solely on edited clips and news summaries.
According to Philippines News agency, Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian spearheaded the launch of Senate TV, a high-definition channel available on IBC Digital TV Channel 13.3. This initiative is in collaboration with the state-owned Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation (IBC-13).
Senate TV will initially broadcast committee hearings, plenary sessions, and other Senate activities without commentary, aiming to allow viewers to interpret the proceedings independently. The channel plans to introduce newscasts and specialized programs in its second phase, focusing on lawmakers' activities and community engagements.
This initiative is part of a broader effort by IBC-13 to create a Philippine equivalent of the C-SPAN public affairs network in the United States, which provides extensive government coverage with minimal editorial influence. Senate TV complements Congress TV, which began broadcasting in October 2024, ensuring both chambers of Congress have dedicated television platforms.
Senate President Pro Tempore Vicente Sotto III emphasized the importance of this initiative in reinforcing the constitutional right of Filipinos to access public information. The channel will continue livestreaming budget deliberations, allowing taxpayers to track public fund allocations.
During the launch ceremony, Gatchalian and IBC-13 President and CEO Jose Policarpio Jr. formalized their partnership with a memorandum of agreement. The Senate leases the channel from IBC-13, which owns the broadcasting frequency. Policarpio assured that IBC-13 remains dedicated to delivering accurate and nonpartisan information.
In line with this development, the Senate is restructuring its Public Relations and Information Bureau into a modern communications office to enhance information dissemination via digital technologies. The channel currently broadcasts from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and plans are underway to extend availability to cable and digital platforms. IBC-13 also aims to expand its digital broadcasting infrastructure to increase coverage across the Philippines.
