PH gov't launches TV channel to air full hearings, debates

Filipinos can now watch Senate hearings, plenary debates and legislative proceedings in full through a dedicated television channel formally launched on Tuesday, giving the public direct access to the chamber's activities without relying solely on edited clips and news summaries.

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian led the launch of Senate TV, a high-definition channel available on IBC Digital TV Channel 13.3, in partnership with the state-owned Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation (IBC-13).

"Itong Senate TV ay napakagandang hakbang ito para magdala ng full information sa ating mga kababayan (Senate TV is an important step in delivering complete information to our people)," Gatchalian said during the ceremony.

He said the initiative would allow Filipinos to better understand how laws are crafted, including the extensive research, consultations, and technical work that take place beyond televised debates.

Gatchalian noted that senators are often the public faces of legislation, but numerous Senate personnel also contribute to the drafting and refinement of proposed measures.

The channel will initially broadcast committee hearings, plenary proceedings, and other Senate activities without commentary intended to influence how viewers interpret them.

Under its planned second phase, Senate TV will introduce its own newscast covering Senate developments and specialized programs featuring lawmakers' activities, including their engagements with communities outside the legislative chamber.

According to IBC-13, the initiative forms part of a broader effort to establish a Philippine version of the United States' C-SPAN public affairs broadcasting model, which provides extensive coverage of government proceedings with minimal editorial filtering.

Senate TV joins Congress TV, which began broadcasting on IBC Digital Channel 13.2 in October 2024, giving both chambers of Congress dedicated television platforms.

Senate President Pro Tempore Vicente Sotto III said the initiative reinforces the constitutional right of Filipinos to information on matters of public concern.

"You do not have to take our word for it or what happens here. You can watch it, you judge it, and you hold us accountable," Sotto said.

He said the broadcasts would also explain how legislation moves from filing to committee deliberations, plenary debates, amendments, and voting before reaching the President for approval or veto.

Sotto added that the channel would continue the Senate's practice of livestreaming budget deliberations, allowing taxpayers to monitor how public funds are allocated.

During the ceremony, Gatchalian and IBC-13 President and Chief Executive Officer Jose "Jimmie" Policarpio Jr. signed a memorandum of agreement formalizing their broadcasting partnership.

Under the arrangement, the Senate leases the television channel from IBC-13, which owns and operates the broadcasting frequency.

Policarpio said the network remains committed to delivering accurate, timely, and nonpartisan information despite being part of the government's integrated state media system.

IBC-13 also cited Republic Act No. 12311, signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Oct. 3, 2025, which renewed its legislative franchise for another 25 years and contains a provision against requiring prior censorship of broadcast content.

Gatchalian, meanwhile, announced that the Senate is restructuring its Public Relations and Information Bureau into a modern communications office to strengthen information dissemination through emerging digital technologies.

He said the partnership with IBC-13 would provide the technical expertise and broadcasting experience necessary to make legislative proceedings more accessible and engaging.

The channel currently airs from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on IBC Digital Channel 13.3 in areas covered by the network's digital television signal.

Viewers using digital television sets or set-top boxes may need to rescan their channels to receive Senate TV.

The Senate also plans to make the channel available on cable television and digital platforms.

IBC-13 said Channel 13.3 previously carried the simulcast of DWAN 1206 AM, which will eventually transfer to a fourth digital television channel once activated.

The network has expanded its digital broadcasting infrastructure, with nine digital transmission sites operating from Laoag to Cagayan de Oro as of early 2026.

Another 13 digital sites are planned by 2027 to expand coverage across Luzon and Mindanao, potentially allowing more Filipinos to watch Senate proceedings through free digital television.