November 13, 2025 | 4:44pm
MANILA, Philippines — The Independent Commission for Infrastructure still has no firm commitment on when it will begin streaming its hearings online, nearly a month after its chairman first promised to open proceedings to the public.
ICI Chairperson Andres Reyes Jr. told reporters on Thursday, November 13, that the commission is still “studying” the matter and may have an update next week. But he suggested livestreaming could depend on whether resource persons agree to appear on camera.
“We might ask the person if he wants a livestream,” Reyes said at a press conference. “Because they are potential witnesses, and if they feel a threat to their safety… there is still no yes or no on that. We are still evaluating.”
This comes three weeks after the ICI clarified Reyes’ remarks at a Senate hearing that the body will begin livestreaming in the week that followed, “once we have the technical capability.” The commission then said the following day it needed to first draft rules to protect witnesses and resource persons, and that no hearings were scheduled due to ICI Commissioner Babes Singson’s unavailability.
The ICI has conducted all hearings behind closed doors since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. created it on September 11 to investigate corruption and irregularities in government infrastructure projects, particularly flood control works.
Reyes had initially defended the need to keep hearings private, saying it would prevent “trial by publicity, political grandstanding, sensationalism, and disinformation.” But he acknowledged public pressure for transparency during an October 22 Senate hearing on a bill to expand the commission’s powers.
The commission has not set a target date for when livestreaming will begin. It has a hearing scheduled for November 17.