ICI issues livestreaming guidelines for flood control mess hearings

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure said Friday it has issued guidelines for the livestreaming of its hearings.

"The commission has decided that the hearings and proceedings of the ICI shall be livestreamed except in cases where there is a need to hold executive session," ICI executive director Brian Keith Hosaka said in a press conference,

He said the commission wants to be as transparent as possible.

He said government agencies conducting parallel investigation into the anomalous flood control or infrastructure projects, as well as resource persons or witnesses may request that certain proceedings be held in executive session.

"The commission may grant such request if it determines that it has sufficient and factual basis and that granting that will not delay or hinder the commission on fulfilling its mandate," said Hosaka.

He said the condition for the granting of an executive session is stated in the guidelines.

He added the livestreaming guidelines will also apply retroactively to the previous proceedings of the ICI.

"The general rule is all the proceedings and hearings of the commission will be livestreamed but subject to executive session as may be required by law, requested by government agencies who are also investigating these anomalous infrastructure projects or as may be requested by our resource persons," said Hosaka.

He said media entities may broadcast the livestreaming of the proceedings upon complying with the requirements of the commission and ICI will be sharing to the public the full guidelines for livestreaming in "line with the commissions' thrust on transparency."

Hosaka said their target is to livestream the next hearing of the ICI probably next week if they will be able to complete the set up of their facilities.

"Hindi naman bingi ang ICI. Kahit walang livestreaming, naririnig namin ang clamor ng public and despite of that, hindi nagpapaimpluwensya ang commission," he said. 

(The ICI is not deaf to the clamor of the public. Even without the livestreams, we hear the clamor of the public and despite of that, we are never influenced.)

"We are objective and evidence-based. In that sense, I don't think there's gonna be a change with regards to how the ICI will be acting," Hosaka added

Guidelines

Under the guidelines, the ICI will have the sole control and supervision of the conduct, manner, and procedure of the audio-visual recording and the livestreaming of the hearings.

All media entities intending to broadcast the livestream shall apply with the commission. 

"No media entity shall be allowed to take part in and/or broadcast the live streaming of the subject proceedings without an application duly approved by the ICI," the guidelines read.

Hosaka said the ICI wanted a set up like the one being used in the Supreme Court where media entities tap to the facility of the commission. 

Meanwhile, any person who would violate the ICI livestreaming guidelines shall be subject to administrative, civil, and/or criminal liability and the corresponding applicable penalty based on prevailing laws, rules, and jurisprudence. —AOL, GMA Integrated News