Diocese starts Candidates Forum series

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines – A series of candidates’ forum for the May 13 polls started last Friday until May 3, and to be aired live on Fil Products Cable TV Channel 6, simultaneously with local radio stations in Negros Oriental.

The series is part of the voters’ education campaign of the Diocesan Electoral Board (DEB) of the Diocese of Dumaguete, headed by its convenor, Msgr. Julius Perpetuo Heruela.

At a final coordinating meeting by the DEB executive committee on Thursday, Heruela said the candidates’ forum will provide a venue for the electorate to listen to the candidates seeking various elective positions in the province on their respective platforms.

The first forum will feature nine congressional candidates from the 1st, 2nd and 3rd districts of Negros Oriental. They will be given equal time each to introduce themselves and later on a Q & A will follow with questions from the floor or through texting to be accommodated.

Heruela said the candidates’ forum has been successful as seen in previous elections in reaching out to the electorate to support efforts for a clean, honest, accountable, meaningful and peaceful or CHAMP elections.

A regular activity held during election time in the Philippines, this year’s forum will deviate from the usual practice of staging it in key cities and towns in Negros Oriental, to cut down travel time but reach a wider coverage instead.

Fil-Products Cable TV has the widest reach in terms of coverage in Negros Oriental. According to its manager Girlie Bernardez, all the forums are gratis, in the interest of public service.

Some FM radio stations have also committed to hook up to Fil-Products’ Channel 6 for a simultaneous live coverage while the Catholic Church-run DYWC-AM will be on delayed airing, said Bernardez.

The other schedules are as follows: April 10 for bets for governors and vice-governors; April 16 for Provincial Board members in the 1st district; April 18 for 2nd district PB members; April 23 for 3rd district PB members; April 26 for Dumaguete City mayors and vice-mayors; April 30 for first batch Dumaguete City councilors; and May 3, second batch city councilors.  (FREEMAN)