Church, media lead first ever candidates’ forum in Bacolod City
BACOLOD CITY – It’s all systems go for the church-media forum today (January 14) for the mayoralty candidates of Bacolod City at the Sanctuario de La Salle, at 2 p.m.
In a final meeting yesterday at the San Sebastian Cathedral led by Fr. Felix Pasquin, rector of the San Sebastian Cathedral, and historian/columnist Modesto Sa-onoy, with representatives of the mayoralty candidates incumbent City Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Vladimir Gonzalez, Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella, and Andrea Si, and the media outlets, the guidelines for the forum were discussed.
In an interview, Fr. Pasquin said the candidates’ forum is designed purposely for the voter’s education because they believe that if the voters will be educated as to the programs and platforms of the candidates for the City Government, they will be guided accordingly.
“It will also educate the candidates in order to help eliminate negative attacks on each other, because what they will present are their platforms of government and programs,” Pasquin stressed.
The panel will be composed of representatives from the media, Integrated Bar of the Philippines, student leaders and the academe from the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos (UNO-R).
As part of the procedure, every candidate will be given a 10-minute presentation of their program; the presentation shall be given only by the candidate; no substitution will be allowed; if the candidate is sent he/she shall waive his privilege; the sequence of presentation will be determined by a raffle before the start of the forum; every candidate shall be given no more than 10 minutes to read his/her prepared presentation; a bell will signal to indicate the speaker has 30 seconds left and another bell to indicate time is up; no power point presentation will be allowed.
Another requirement is for the candidate to submit 12 copies of the prepared presentation for the panel of interviewers and the media.
The candidates shall keep their presentations and responses at high level of discourse and refrain from using language that will ridicule or demean the others, make personal or negative remarks and use of foul words.
Fr. Pasquin expects that due respect and courtesy will be observed by the speakers and each candidate shall not campaign during the forum.
The designated interviewers will be allowed to ask questions, only after all candidates have completed their presentations.
Interviewer will be allowed two direct questions with one follow-up, and the candidates will be given three minutes to make their final statement after all have been interviewed by media and the panel.
Fr. Pasquin, Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra, Bro. Ray Suplido, Bro. Tagoy Jakosalem, Ernest Latiza, and Sa-onoy would form part of the forum’s panel.
Last Monday Mayor Evelio Leonardia confirmed that he will attend the forum. Congressman Puentevella, Gonzales and Si, on the other hand, made their confirmation through their representatives that they will join.
On February, the Diocese of Bacolod will lead another church-media forum for congressional candidates in the city.
