REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

OUSE

EPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City, Metro Manila

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

House Resolution No. 271

Introduced by

Kabataan Party-List Rep. Raymond V. PalatinoA RESOLUTIONTO IMPLEMENT THE USE OF INTERNET LIVE STREAMING TECHNOLOGY TOBROADCAST ALL PUBLIC COMMITTEE HEARINGS AND PLENARY SESSIONSIN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

WHEREAS

, Sec. 7, Art. III of the 1987 Constitution asserts “the right of the people toinformation on matters of public concern shall be recognized”;

WHEREAS

, Sec. 1, Art. XI of the 1987 Constitution affirms that “public office is apublic trust,” and that “public officers and employees must at all times be accountable tothe people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and efficiency, act withpatriotism and justice, and lead modest lives”;

WHEREAS

, one of the best ways to afford the People their right to information and topromote transparency and accountability among public officers is to allow the public toactually witness public proceedings undertaken by government agencies;

WHEREAS

, as one of the most important agencies of the Government, the House of Representatives has the duty to be accountable to the People, and thus must initiatemeasures that will address the People’s right to information on matters of public concernbeing tackled in the House’s committee hearings and plenary sessions;

WHEREAS

, unlike before when physical limitations and security considerationsrestrict the open accommodation of ordinary citizens, regardless of their characters andnumbers, into the halls of the House of Representatives in order to allow them to witnessCongress proceedings, today there are available technologies that allow any person towitness such proceedings without actual physical presence in Batasan;

WHEREAS

, aside from television and/or radio broadcasts of all proceedings in theHouse of Representatives, which may not be entirely feasible granted the cost andcomplications of such technology and the limited available airtime in either commercial orgovernment broadcast stations, the House of Representatives can opt to utilize existing