Metro Manila, Philippines – The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), which has conducted all hearings on anomalous flood control projects behind closed doors, will begin livestreaming its proceedings next week.
In a briefing on Friday, Nov. 21, ICI executive director Brian Hosaka said all hearings will be livestreamed on Facebook and Youtube.
“Ang target natin (Our target) would be the next hearing, probably next week, if naka-set na ang system (if the system is set). We will announce it to you once the schedule of the commission has finalized it,” he said.
Hosaka said the ICI recognizes the “Filipino’s clamour for transparency” and said the commission is “one with the people in its fight to hold accountable those responsible” for the controversial infrastructure projects.
In crafting rules for the livestream and broadcasting of the hearings, Hosaka said the commission weighed the rights of the Filipino to information and the rights of those involved in the probe to due process.
The guidelines said all proceedings will be livestreamed unless resource persons, witnesses, or involved government agencies request an executive session.
“The commission may grant such requests if it determines that these have sufficient and factual basis and that granting them will not delay or hinder the commission on fulfilling its mandate,” Hosaka said.
Apart from this, the ICI executive said broadcasting companies are only allowed to livestream the proceedings once they comply with the requirements of the commission.
Hosaka explained that the proceedings will be controlled by the ICI and broadcasted to its platforms. The approved media entities may then be allowed to tap into these livestreams.
The ICI was formed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in September to investigate corruption in flood control and other infrastructure projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) over a number of administrations.
The body is tasked with probing “anomalies, irregularities, and misuse of funds” in DPWH and related agencies.
