Marikina deploys video streaming of public hearings on the Internet

Posted at 7:37 pm July 21, 2010

Tags: Government Offices, Typhoons and Natural Disasters

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By KC Santos

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MARIKINA CITY, METRO MANILA – By “livestreaming” council hearings as they happen on the Internet, the city government is looking to make itself more transparent to residents, including native Marikenos who are now based abroad.

The Marikina City Council Information and Technology Center (MCCITC), under the auspices of Vice Mayor Jose Fabian Cadiz, initiated this “e-Good Governance” (eGG) project.

Cadiz points out it is vital that the public is aware of what happens behind the doors of the Marikina Justice Hall “by providing e-linkages between public officials and the citizenry”.

“It’s a very optimal and cheap means of showing the public what goes on during hearings.” says Don Parma, an IT consultant for the city government. The system uses four CCTV cameras streaming video via USTREAM, which is free of charge.

Joey Ramos II, who moderates live chat on the Marikina City website, said livestreaming of public hearings is already practiced in other Asian countries though using more advanced technology.

He admits their system needs more improvement in terms of clarity, both in audio and video. Nevertheless, he says other cities in the country have been soliciting their help in setting up a similar livestreaming system.

The MCCITC also organized the Marikina City Typhoon System, which primarily aims to disseminate real-time information in times of natural disasters. Marikina was badly hit during last year’s Typhoon Ondoy, submerging many residential villages in flood.

Vice-Mayor Cadiz said the city government is coordinating with the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) on this initiative.