Cebu debate to last one hour longer

CEBU, Philippines - Taking cue from viewers who found the two-hour Mindanao presidential debate too short, the Commission on Elections approved on extending Visayas leg debate time to three hours.

Gregg Lloren, professor at the University of the Philippines Cebu, said the second presidential debate this year will air live from Cebu from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. next Sunday, March 20.

A total of two hours and 20 minutes will be devoted for the actual debate while 40 minutes will be allotted for “short” commercial gaps spread over the three-hour period.

The first of the #PilipinasDebates2016 series took place at the Capitol University in Cagayan de Oro City on February 21. While Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista branded it as “a world-class event in terms of substance and form,” many netizens took to the social media their discontent on the length of time given to the candidates and the supposed heavy exposure given to commercials. 

Lloren, who is among those behind the groundwork for the debates’ leg in Cebu, explained that these complaints pushed the Comelec to lobby for the one-hour extension from its media partners, TV5 and The Philippine Star.

Apart from the longer airtime, Lloren said viewers can also expect of improvements on the debate’s format. He earlier said candidates will be given a chance to ask their opponents a specific question. Yesterday, he revealed that for Visayas, organizers will employ the “CNN debate format,” although he begged off from disclosing further information.

In the United States, CNN-led, party-level debates were normally characterized by free-flowing and substantial discussion of relevant issues.

On March 20, the Philippine presidentiables are expected to shed light on issues surrounding Climate Change, education, women’s rights, and health, among others.

Meanwhile, on top of the 1,500 people allowed during the on-ground event, at least 200 political supporters will be also permitted to gather at the soccer field of UP-Cebu’s high school campus beside the Cebu Cultural Center. The high school campus is across the college campus which houses the Performing Arts Hall, the actual venue of the debate.

As to how these 200 individuals will be identified or selected will be, however, up to the national heads of their respective candidates’ parties, said Lloren.

To enhance security, UP-Cebu officials have also asked the Cebu City Transportation Office to close a portion of Gorordo Avenue to vehicular traffic on Debate Day. In particular, they requested closure on the part of C. Rosal Street near Harolds Hotel all the way to Lahug Elementary School.

Yesterday, Lloren said school officials already met with the police last Friday to discuss security preparations. He also said all five presidential candidates confirmed attendance to the Cebu debate. —(FREEMAN)