The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) has announced that its hearings and proceedings will generally be livestreamed to the public, except in cases where executive sessions are deemed necessary.

“Government agencies involved in the investigation of anomalous flood control or other infrastructure projects, as well as resource persons or witnesses, may request certain proceedings to be held in executive session,” ICI Executive Director Atty. Brian Hosaka said.

“The commission may grant such requests if they are based on sufficient factual grounds and will not delay or hinder the ICI in fulfilling its mandate,” the executive added.

The commission also clarified that the livestreaming guidelines will apply retroactively to previous ICI proceedings. Media entities may broadcast the livestreamed sessions, provided they comply with the commission’s requirements.

Full guidelines for livestreaming have also been released in line with the ICI’s transparency objectives.

“The general rule is that all proceedings and hearings of the commission will be livestreamed, but this is subject to executive session as required by law or requested by government agencies or witnesses,” Hosaka emphasized.

Hosaka explained that the ICI will manage livestreaming through a single official platform, similar to the Supreme Court system, with media outlets accessing the feed via the ICI’s controlled platform.

The commission is considering both Facebook and YouTube as livestreaming platforms, with the first session expected as early as next week once the system is set up. The schedule of the first hearing and its attendees will be announced once finalized.

Hosaka also noted that media personnel will initially be positioned in a designated area with their own screens to monitor the session as it is livestreamed.