Town hall format to be used in last presidential debate

DAGUPAN CITY -- A town hall format will be adopted in the last and final presidential debate from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, April 24, at the University of Pangasinan Phinma in Dagupan City, different from the two previous ones held in Cagayan de Oro City and Cebu City.

Ging Reyes, ABS-CBN Integrated and Current Affairs head, said that in a town hall debate, ordinary Filipinos representing different sectors in society would be asking questions to the five presidential candidates.

Reyes said sectoral representatives were chosen among thousands of Filipinos all over the nation and the world who earlier sent in their questions for the presidential candidates via ABS-CBN's "Halalan Hugot" campaign.

Their questions, she said, would touch on very relevant and pressing issues such as metro traffic and public transport, job security, health, foreign policy, basic public education, overseas Filipino workers' concerns, and peace for the Mindanaons in conflict areas.

Reyes said each presidential candidate would get to answer all questions, allowing the public to compare and decide which candidate was truly prepared and committed to address the issues raised.

The town hall debate will be held at the student plaza at the University of Pangasinan Phinma, which reserved seats for only 1,200 spectators.

Joining ABS-CBN in this presidential debate are the Commission on Elections, Kapisanan ng mga Brodkasters sa Pilipinas (KBP) and Manila Bulletin.

At least 20 local media men, whose names were picked out in a raffle participated in by some 500 media persons who sought accreditation, will be allowed entry into the debate site but must abide with the rules set by organizers.

Mediamen whose names were not picked up could cover the event at the media center where television sets were installed.

Of the five presidential candidates, the earliest bird in Dagupan is Vice President Jejomar Binay, who has already inspected the debate site, including its podiums and the place where he will walk in coming to the debate at UPang Phinma, said Reyes.

The other presidential candidates -- Rodrigo Duterte, Grace Poe, Manuel Roxas II and Meriam Defensor Santiago -- are still arriving Sunday morning.

Meanwhile, Herman Basbanio, KBP chairman, welcomed mediamen who would cover the debate, as he enjoined them to cover this well to be able to help the public form an intelligent opinion on who among the presidential candidates deserves to be voted upon.

The moderators of the debate are Tony Velasquez and Karen Davila. (PNA)

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