100ARAW.com

By Tonyo Cruz

The formal campaign period starts one week from now and we have yet to see the presidential candidates go into actual, real debates.

Debates are important. They would be a good way to check the intellect and character of those who aspire to be president. We would also be given a chance to see the similarities and differences of their points of view, programs and visions for the country.

With the Commission on Elections (Comelec) saddled by woes in the automated election system and with the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) in running tiff against the National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel), perhaps the old and new media networks could take the lead in making these presidential debates a reality.

ABS-CBN’s Halalan 2010 and GMA’s Eleksyon 2010 are the biggest election coverage consortia today. They have enough influence, manpower and resources to convince all the presidential aspirants to sit down and agree to a series of debates. Perhaps we could have one each for the three months that cover the campaign.

The presidentiables could agree to the formation of a committee on presidential debates that may either be multipartisan but with a non-partisan chair, or entirely independent and non-partisan with a representative from each of the candidates.

Award-winning debating clubs in the country’s universities could provide tips on how to mount the debates. The biggest universities can provide the venues and the needed audience. But I hope one of these debates would be held in a public square so people could watch them actually live.

All presidential candidates whose names would be in the ballot should be in the debate. It is a disservice to the electoral exercise and the public’s right to choose to limit the protagonists to “favorites” based on surveys.

Unlike the many fora and discussion that have been held with any number of these presidentiables, the debates should be able draw sharp contrasts. I think we’ve had enough of these fora and discussions even before the campaign has started. Besides, schools and organizations are expected to continue such events in the coming weeks and months.

Citizen-initiated media efforts such as Vote Report Philippines 2010, Blogwatch.ph and 100ARAW.com would surely welcome and seek to be actively involved in such debates. I think it is a common hope that there would be reliable and quick livestreaming of the debates. This would be to the benefit of those who could not watch the debates on television and those who live and work outside the country.

In the last US presidential elections, new media played a big role. Not only were the debates streamed live, common people were given the chance to throw questions at the candidates via Youtube. Interactivity with the electorate via new media would make these debates more interesting and friendly to the public.

To make these debates happen, the time to act is now.