How will CongressTV limit the exposure of each congressman?
At A Glance
- Whether in the majority or minority, if you're a lawmaker in the House of Representatives, your performance in plenary sessions and committee hearings will dictate your screen time on CongressTV.
House of Representatives (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)
Whether in the majority or minority, if you’re a lawmaker in the House of Representatives, your performance in plenary sessions and committee hearings will dictate your screen time on CongressTV.
This was how People’s Television Network (PTV) general manager Ana Puod described CongressTV’s presentation of the House members on the dedicated free-to-air channel that will broadcast the daily activities of the lower chamber.
“Magre-rely tayo sa participation nila sa floor or sa hearing,” Puod said during the launch of the channel on Monday, Jan. 22. “Kung pangit performance nila sa floor that would determine kung gaano kahaba yung exposure nila.”
(We will rely on their participation on the floor or in the hearing.)
(If they have a bad performance on the floor that would determine how long their exposure will be.)
CongressTV is a collaboration between the state-owned network PTV and the House, with the former taking charge of the broadcasting.
“The editorial decision of CongressTV is with PTV. Maybe we can get suggestions about content [from the representatives], but at the end of the day, it’s PTV who's the one to decide what’s going to air,” the PTV chief explained.
Puod, a veteran broadcaster, said audiences can expect a “Reality TV” approach with the channel’s presentation, as it aimed to give direct access to legislative work and public service.
During the channel launch in Romualdez Hall at the House of Representatives, House Speaker Martin Romualdez noted that CongressTV will act as a bridge between lawmakers and every Filipino.
“CongressTV indeed is our commitment to ensure that no Filipino is left in the dark, that every citizen is afforded a front-row seat to the legislative process,” Romualdez said in his speech.
The Speaker said that after the barrage of disinformation the House confronted last year, the correct move is to be transparent.
“Ito talaga ang susi para makita talaga ng lahat ng tao ang ginagawa natin dito. Yung sinasabing transparency, ito na po,” he stressed.
(This is the key for everyone to really see what we are doing here. The so-called transparency, this is it.)
CongressTV will begin airing on Tuesday, Jan. 23 via PTV’s Digital Channel 14 Manila. It will also be available through Channel 46 on GMA Affordabox and Channel 2 on ABS-CBN TVPlus.