JULY 16, 2015

NR # 3897

Presidential Debate Commission proposed

A bill establishing the Presidential Debate Commission (PDC) is under
consideration by the House Committee on Government Reorganization.
Rep. Estrellita B. Suansing (1st District, Nueva Ecija) is author of HB 5269 entitled
An Act establishing The Presidential Debate Commission.
Even as the 2016 national elections is too near an exercise of suffrage, Rep.
Suansing stressed that the Filipino people deserve to witness the candidates capacity to
clearly present their platforms, program of government, and provide answers to questions
on global issues that will affect the country.
Under HB 5269, the proposed Presidential Debate Commission (PDC) shall
obligate all Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates to participate in the debates and,
thus, help the voting population discern who to vote for.
The author cited Article III Section 7 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution which
recognizes the right of the people to information on matters of public concern.
This right reinforces the equally important right to suffrage. A well-informed
citizenry would be able to carefully choose their future leaders, Suansing said.
Relative to this, Suansing also cited Sections 90 to 93 of Batas Pambansa Bilang
881, otherwise known as the Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines, which likewise
recognize the importance of this right to information, by providing for venues and
opportunities to inform the people of the qualifications of candidates.
HB 5269 complements the said statutes by seeking to establish the PDC which will:
(1) schedule the debates for the Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates; (2) submit
reports evaluating the debates scheduled by the Commission itself and by other agencies,
organizations or associations, or the mass media; and (3) formulate the guidelines for the
adoption of the best format for the debates.
The proposed Commission shall be established not later than one (1) year before the
date of each general election for the offices of the President and Vice President of the
country, beginning with the next national elections.
Each Commission appointed under the proposed law shall terminate on the date
following the day of the election for which the Commission was appointed, Suansing
added.

Under HB 5269, the PDC shall be composed of six (6) members appointed as
follows:
(a) One (1) member shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives;
(b) One (1) appointed by the House Majority leader, show shall not be a member of
the Majority Leaders political party;
(c) One (1) member shall be appointed by the President of the Senate;
(d) One (1) member shall be appointed by the Majority Leader of the Senate; and
(e) Two (2) members shall be appointed by the President among a list of nominees
by the two (2) dominant political parties.
Candidates for President and Vice President are automatically disqualified from
becoming a member of the Commission as well as their relatives within the fourth degree
of consanguinity and affinity.
Among other provisions, the members of the PDC may be from the public or
private sector, and may include national or local government officers or employees,
members of the academe, nonprofit organizations, or other interested individuals.
Members of the PDC shall receive a per diem of P500.00 for each day of attendance
in the Commission and actual traveling expenses not exceeding P5,000.00 per month. The
PDC shall be responsible for maintaining its own secretariat as well as such other staff as
it may deem necessary. Each Commissioner shall also be entitled to a personal staff of
two (2); Provided, However, that the tenure of office of the regular personal staff of each
Commissioner shall be coterminous with his own tenure of office.
The proposed law provides for the detailed duties and responsibilities of the
Commission. (30) dpt