Senate, IBC-13 launch Senate TV channel

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate of the Philippines and the Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation (IBC-13) on Tuesday launched Senate TV, a channel dedicated to broadcasting the upper chamber’s proceedings.

In a speech during the channel’s launch, Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said that Senate TV will give Filipinos better access to information about Senate affairs.

READ: Senate told: Over P1 trillion in proposed 2027 budget is ‘pork’

“Maraming information [ang] hindi alam ng taong bayan. Ito ‘yung behind-the-scenes information,” he said, noting that citizens can already see debates on laws but not the process behind its creation.

(The public remains unaware of much of the information, particularly what happens behind the scenes.)

Senate President Pro Tempore Vicente Sotto III, who was present at the launch, said that the new network would deliver not just snippets of the proceedings, but the Senate’s full progression of its debates, hearings and votes.

“You do not have to take our word for it or what happens here. You can watch it, judge it, and you hold us accountable,” he added.

Signed by Sen. Gatchalian and IBC President and CEO Jose “Jimmie” Policarpio Jr., the memorandum of understanding is aimed at highlighting transparency and accountability during public proceedings on Senate TV.

It also seeks to feature affairs beyond the session hall, following members outside their offices, into the communities they serve, and down to the everyday Filipino.

Senate TV is now available on IBC Digital TV Channel 13, accessible primarily on its digital platform and free television, with cable TV availability to follow. (Martina Nieyandra Calica/INQUIRER.net trainee)