Senate of the Philippines✓

The Senate and IBC-13 formally unveiled Senate TV on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, giving Filipinos a dedicated channel for live coverage of Senate proceedings, from plenary sessions to committee hearings. Senate President Win Gatchalian and IBC-13 President and CEO Jose “Jimmie” Policarpio Jr. led the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) during the launch, formalizing the partnership behind the new broadcast platform. Also present at the MOU signing were Senate President Pro Tempore Vicente Sotto III, Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr., Deputy Secretary for Administrative and Financial Services Atty. Arnel Jose Bañas, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Mon Ilagan, and Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation Board Chairman Atty. Noel Malaya. Available on IBC Digital TV Channel 13.3, Senate TV aims to bring the Senate’s work closer to the public and provide real-time access to key legislative discussions and budget deliberations. #SenatePH @WinGatchalian74 @sotto_tito

Senate President Win Gatchalian on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, said the newly launched Senate TV will help bring Filipinos closer to the work of the Senate by providing a more complete view of how laws are crafted and how legislative decisions are made. Gatchalian pointed out that the channel is intended to show not only debates and voting on the Senate floor but also the research, consultations, and behind-the-scenes work that go into producing legislation. “As a senator, kami lang ang nagiging mukha nung batas na 'yun, pero mas marami pang taong gumagawa para mabuo 'yung batas na 'yun. At 'yun naman ang isa sa mga hakbang o direksyon ng Senate TV is to really give our constituents the full view of the operations of the Senate, para ma-appreciate rin nila kung ano ba talaga ang ginagawa ng Senado,” he said. #SenatePH @WinGatchalian74

Filipinos can now watch the Senate's work unfold in full, from committee hearings to final votes, with the launch of Senate TV, Senate President Pro Tempore Vicente Sotto III said on Tuesday, October 27, 2026. Speaking during the launch, Sotto said the channel will give the public direct access to Senate hearings, debates, and voting proceedings, allowing Filipinos to better understand how laws are crafted and how government decisions are made. He added that Senate TV will strengthen transparency and accountability by enabling citizens to follow legislative deliberations, including budget discussions, and judge for themselves how their elected officials perform their duties. #SenatePH @sotto_tito

🛑 LIVE The Committee on Finance, chaired by Deputy Majority Leader Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, holds a consultative meeting with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to discuss Budgetary Priorities for the FY 2027 General Appropriations Act. #SenatePH 📹

@jvejercito @iampinglacson @WinGatchalian74 Gatchalian acknowledged the significant improvements made by CSOs in scrutinizing the budget, noting how they produced an analysis just a day after the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) was approved in the House of Representatives. #SenatePH 3/4 @WinGatchalian74

@jvejercito @iampinglacson @WinGatchalian74 According to Gatchalian, the early insights provided by CSOs greatly assisted the Finance panel’s initial review of the 2027 budget, showing the vital role civil society groups play in fiscal oversight. #SenatePH 4/4 @WinGatchalian74

🔴 LIVE The Committee on Ways and Means, chaired by Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, holds an organizational meeting and hearing on bills seeking to extend the availment of the estate tax amnesty. 📹

@iampinglacson @WinGatchalian74 While backing the proposed extension, Gatchalian noted that tax amnesties are meant to be granted sparingly. He stressed the need to identify barriers that prevent families from settling estate taxes under regular procedures. #SenatePH 2/3 @WinGatchalian74

@iampinglacson @WinGatchalian74 Gatchalian also urged the Bureau of Internal Revenue to study simpler approaches for resolving multi-generational property transfers, which often leave inherited assets tied up for decades and unable to contribute to economic activity. #SenatePH 3/3 @WinGatchalian74

🔴 LIVE The Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, chaired by Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, convenes to take up measures on the compulsory retirement age for Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) personnel. The panel also looks into the status of drug related cases, including the recent seizure of illegal drugs in Laos. 📹

@iampinglacson @sotto_tito Sotto said the veto message raised issues involving pay disparities, organizational structure, redundancies, and the creation of liaison offices within the PNP. #SenatePH 2/3 @sotto_tito

@iampinglacson @sotto_tito Sotto expressed hope that these concerns would be resolved in the committee report to improve the bill's chances of passage. #SenatePH 3/3 @sotto_tito