Senate budget deliberations may now be viewed online

Netizens will now be able to watch the Senate deliberations on the proposed 2011 budget via live streaming. Senator Francis Pangilinan, who authored Resolution 53 that called for the live streaming of Senate proceedings, said the live broadcast of their sessions online will be "educational" to the public. "Our aim is to provide the public in general accurate information, transparency and accountability of legislators in the proceedings in the Senate," he said in a statement released Wednesday. To view the proceedings, click here. Pangilinan said with this effort, the public will be able to "participate" in governance. “Now the public can see the judge for themselves how their elected officials are doing their jobs," he said. The Senate adopted Resolution 53 last September. On Wednesday, the Senate began its deliberations on the budgets of the Department of Education, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Finance, National Economic and Development Authority, Joint Legislative Executive Council, and State Universities and Colleges. - Kimberly Jane Tan/KBK, GMANews.TV