Skip to content

Philippines Today

home of the Global Filipino

Menu
  • News Stories
  • Regional News
  • Business & Economy
  • Science & Technology
  • International
Menu

Congress tries ‘reality TV’

Posted on June 6, 2008

PHILIPPINE NEWS SERVICE — The House of Representatives has embarked on a new reality show, dubbed Congress TV or “Bahay ni Nogie” that will broadcast live on cable television and on the Internet all the committee and plenary sessions.

“It will have no scripts. No makeups. No special effects. Just raw and live broadcast of what is going on in the House of Representatives,” Speaker Prospero Nograles said.

This is part of Nograles’ commitment to turn the Chamber into a true “House of the People” by being more transparent in conducting its affairs. It is also meant to encourage members to actively participate in committee and plenary deliberations.

“Apart from keeping the public abreast of what is going on in the Chamber, this would also dissuade lawmakers from malingering,” Nograles said.

“This has been one of my priority projects and I’m glad that it’s now online. We are now steadily putting together the transparency reforms that we have been yearning for in the House of Representatives,” he said.

What’s even better, Nograles said, is that not a single government fund was spent for the live television and Webcast project as it was made in partnership with Destiny Cable Inc., one of the country’s cable television networks, through its Global News Network.

The House sessions will be aired live on Destiny’s GNN Channel 3l.

Simultaneous with the television broadcast is a Webcast that can be accessed through mms://202.128. 41.99/gnn so that even non-Destiny cable subscribers can still access the House proceedings via Internet.

The ABS-CBN’s News Channel (ANC) is featuring a similar reality show called “Bahay ni Kuya” wherein select men and women were housed together and filmed 24 hours a day. The show’s personalities are booted out if they receive the lowest number of votes generated from text messages sent in by viewers.

“In the event that you are not connected to destiny or you are outside its coverage or even outside the Philippines, you can still access it through the Internet. Once connected, just open you media player and access it through its webcast address,” Nograles said. “It’s way slower than tv but with a good internet connection, the public can still see the House in action.”

The Speaker said that since there will be no scripts and all footages are practically raw and unedited, the public should not expect well-rehearsed debates and well-made up congressmen and congresswomen.

“Tempers may go up during debates just like in any debate and oily skins might show up. But that’s reality television,” Nograles said.

House observers said the live TV and webcast telecast is expected to encourage full attendance in the House session hall; encourage debates from among publicity-hungry lawmakers. Lawmakers who belong to the “silent committee” so-called because they are silent most of the time, will be exposed to the public.

Nograles said also nearing its completion is the House’s “pork barrel” website which would detail how each member of the House of Representatives allocates his/her Countrywide Development Fund entitlement.

“This is our commitment to our people. We are steadily putting these transparency reforms in place,” he said.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • More
  • Tumblr
  • Reddit

Related

News Categories

  • Announcement (34)
  • Business & Economy (1,567)
  • Comment and Opinion (74)
    • Random Thoughts (18)
  • Current Issues (425)
    • Charter Change (1)
    • Election (228)
    • Population (6)
  • International (389)
  • Life In Japan (66)
    • Everything Japan (41)
  • Literary (34)
  • Miscellaneous (610)
  • News Stories (5,312)
  • OFW Corner (297)
  • Others (75)
  • People (408)
  • Press Releases (163)
  • Regional News (3,362)
  • Science and Technology (502)
  • Sports & Entertainment (287)

Latest News

  • BSP keeps policy rates anew December 17, 2015
  • NEDA cuts PHL additional rice import for 2016 by 25% December 17, 2015
  • DA cites serious implications of banning genetically modified products December 17, 2015
  • BBL is not yet dead – Drilon December 17, 2015
  • Comelec recognizes Duterte’s CoC for president December 17, 2015
  • NEDA chief sees 2015 growth at 6% despite typhoons December 17, 2015
  • House of Representatives ratifies bicam report on P3.002-T national budget for 2016 December 17, 2015
  • Cebu-based developer invests PHP430M to build 709 townhouse units in north Cebu town December 17, 2015
  • City gov’t eyes P75-M income from economic enterprise December 17, 2015
  • Baguio City LGU presents traffic plan for holiday season December 17, 2015

Archives

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Science and Technology

  • DOST-ICTO targets 500,000 web-based workers from countryside by 2016
  • (Feature) STARBOOKS: A ‘makeover’ for librarians
  • Science, research reduce ‘cocolisap’ hotspot areas in PHL
  • Montejo to further improve PAGASA and empower scientists
  • 1st PPP in biomedical research produces knee replacement system fit for Asians

Press Releases

  • Microsoft to buy Nokia’s mobile devices business for 5.44-B euros
  • New World Bank climate change report should spur SEA and world leaders into action: Greenpeace
  • Save the Philippine Seas before it’s too late — Greenpeace
  • Palanca Awards’ last call for entries
  • Philippines joins the global call for Arctic protection

Comment and Opinion

  • Remembering the dead is a celebration of life
  • Killer earthquake unlikely to hit Panay Island in near future – analyst
  • It’s not just more fun to invest in the Philippines, it is also profitable, says President Aquino
  • How does one differentiate a tamaraw from a carabao?
  • Fun is not just about the place, it is also about the people, says DOT chief

OFW Corner

  • Ebola infection risk low in Croatia
  • Death toll rises to 41, over 100 still missing in landslide in India
  • Asbestos use in construction a labor hazard
  • 500,000 OFWs to benefit POEA on-line transactions — Baldoz
  • 25 distressed OFWs return home from Riyadh
©2025 Philippines Today | Design: Newspaperly WordPress Theme