PINANGUNAHAN ni Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez ngayong araw ang paglulunsad ng makasaysayan at kauna-unahang CongressTV ng Kamara d Representantes.

Sa pamamagitan ng CongressTV hindi lamang mapapanood ng mga Pilipino ang deliberasyon sa mga panukalang batas para isulong ang pro-poor agenda ng Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. kundi makakasali rin paglalatag ng mga batas sa pamamagitan ng interactive platform.

“CongressTV is our commitment to ensuring that no Filipino is left in the dark, that every citizen is afforded a front-row seat to the legislative process,” sabi ni Speaker Romualdez sa paglulungsad ng CongressTV.

“Through this platform, we are tearing down the walls that have long kept the inner workings of the legislature away from public scrutiny,” pahayag ni Speaker Romualdez. “As we embark on this journey, I call upon each one of you to engage with CongressTV actively.”

Ang CongressTV ay konsepto ni PTV General Manager Ana Puod.

Ayon kay Puod, isang beteranong mamamahayag at dating nagtrabaho sa ABS-CBN, ang CongressTV ay isang free-to-air channel na nakatuon sa pagpapalabas ng araw-araw na sesyon at iba pang legislative work at serbisyo publiko ng Kamara para sa publiko.

Mapapanood ito sa digital channel 14 ng PTV ng libre. Mapapanood din ito sa Channel 46 ng GMA Affordabox at Channel 2 sa ABS-CBN TVPlus.

Ayon kay Speaker Romualdez ang CongressTv ay hindi “one-way street.”

“It’s not just about broadcasting what happens within the House. It’s about sparking conversations, about fostering a more interactive and participatory form of governance. It’s about you, the people, having direct access to your representatives and the legislative process,” saad niya.

“This initiative is not just a channel; it’s a bridge. A bridge that connects the hallowed halls of the House of Representatives to every home, every school, and every Filipino. It’s a bridge built on the pillars of transparency, accountability, and inclusivity,” dagdag pa niya.

“In an age where information is both a tool and a weapon, the onus is on us, the elected representatives of the people, to ensure that the power of information is harnessed to empower, educate, and engage,” wika ng House Speaker.

Naniniwala si Romualdez na isa ring abogado na para tunay na maging epektibo ang demokrasya kailangan ng aktibong partisipasyon ng publiko.

“It requires an informed populace, aware of the issues, engaged in the discourse, and empowered to make informed choices,” diin ng lider ng Kamara. “The debates, the deliberations, and the decisions that unfold within these walls are a testament to the democratic ideals we all hold dear.”

Pinayuhan pa ng House Speaker ang publiko na makibahagi sa interactive platform sa pamamagitan ng paglalatag ng mga mahihirap na tanong, humingi ng pananagutan at makibahagi sa prosesong pang demokratiko.

“For in every debate that is broadcast, in every law that is discussed, your voice, your concerns, and your aspirations are reflected,” paliwanag pa ng kinatawan mula unang distrito ng Leyte.

“I am confident that this platform will serve as a beacon of democracy, a catalyst for change, and a cornerstone in our collective journey towards a more transparent, accountable, and inclusive Philippines,” saad niya.

Ang naturang inisyatiba ang magbibigay ng access sa mga Pilipino sa proseso ng pagdedesisyon sa pagbuo ng mga batas ng bansa sa pagpapalabas ng sesyon ng Kamara at hinimok ang mga Pilipino na makilahok sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng komento sa online at platform at social media page ng CongressTV.

“Viewers will have the opportunity to witness the discussions, debates, and deliberations of Congress during its regular sessions,” sabi ni Speaker Romualdez, lider ng 300 higit na mambabatas ng Kamara de Representantes. “By way of Congress TV, we hope to promote greater transparency and accountability in our legislative process and encourage our people to actively interact with our lawmakers in the spirit of true democracy.”

Dagdag naman ni Puod, nais ng PTV na magkaroon ng mas maigting na ugnayan sa pagitan ng pamahalaan at publiko bilang natatanging state broadcaster at isulong ang mas malalim na pag-unawa sa trabaho ng lehislatura at kung paano pa makakatugon ang Kongreso sa pangangailangan ng publiko.

“We are thrilled to announce Congress TV as one of our first major projects this year, on the occasion of PTV’s 50th anniversary as a broadcast institution in the country,” sabi ni Puod. “By airing the sessions of Congress, we aim to present democracy in action, and show participative governance in the shaping of a new Philippines under our President’s vision of Bagong Pilipinas.”

Ayon kay House Secretary General Reginald Velasco agad nitong binigyan ng suporta ang proyekto nang una itong ilatag sa kanya ni Puod noong 2023.

“We found her proposal a welcome development as it gives Congress the opportunity to show to the Filipino people the good things that we do here in the House of Representatives. It also allows our countrymen to know more about how laws are created, how the national budget is examined and passed. It gives our people the opportunity to watch their representatives in action,” sabi naman ni Velasco.

Eere ang Congress TV araw-araw mula alas-9 ng umaga hanggang alas-9 ng gabi mula January 23, 2024 sa PTV Digital Channel 14 Manila at online sa Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, at X.

Naaabot ng PTV ang milyong tagapanuod sa buong bansa sa pamamagitan ng 16 nitong analog transmitting station at anim na digital transmitting stations at sa buong mundo at global community gamit ang iba’t ibang digital platforms at opisyal na social media pages.

Para sa dagdag pang impormasyon ukol sa Congress TV at iba pang programa ng PTV maaaring bisitahin ang website na https://ptvnews.ph/, o mag-email sa [email protected].