MANILA – Inanunsyo ng Commission on Elections (Comelec) na ang unang presidential debate na nakatakda ngayong buwan ay tatlong oras na kaganapan.

“The 3-hour debates will follow a single-moderator format, with no live audience,” wika ni Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez sa isang pahayag.

“Draw lots will determine to whom the first question will go. Succeeding questions, however, will be answered by the candidates in their alphabetical order,” dagdag niya.

Ang unang debate ay gaganapin sa Marso 19 habang ang pangalawang debate ay nakatakda sa Abril 3.

Ang vice-presidential debate ay naka-iskedyul ngayong Marso 20.

Wala pang anunsyo tungkol sa mga lugar ng mga kaganapan.

“Each debate is anchored on a set of predetermined topics on pressing concerns of the country, such as pandemic and the economy, and the pool of questions will come from the concerned sector groups,” dagdag ni Jimenez.

Samantala, nakatakdang gawing pormal ng Comelec at Vote Pilipinas ang kasunduan sa pagtatanghal ng Pilipinas Debates 2022.

Ayon kay Jimenez, gaganapin ang signing ceremony sa Marso 7 sa Sofitel Hotel, Pasay City.

“We are very excited to have the agreement signed so we can finally share the details and mechanics of this much-awaited Comelec-organized debates,” wika niya.

“This is a high-stakes event that the voting public has been fervently looking forward to, so we expect all candidates to be on deck and ready to demonstrate why they deserve our vote,” dagdag ni Jimenez.

Aniya, ang Pilipinas Debates 2022 ay magkakaroon ng back-to-back town hall debate sa parehong remote at in-person audience, gayundin ang post-debate roundtable.

Ang presidential at vice-presidential town hall debate ay gaganapin sa Abril 23 at 24, ayon sa pagkakabanggit. Parehong susundan ang isang double-moderator format.

“Vote Pilipinas, the Comelec’s partner for voter education and information, has previously demonstrated its capability to mount successful campaign drives during the voter registration period. We are confident of their readiness and capacity to help ensure the success of this elections’ debates series,” wika ni Jimenez.

Ang mga organizer, bukod sa lahat ng iba pang mga gawaing pang-logistik at administratibo, ay malapit na makikipagtulungan upang magsagawa ng mahigpit na proseso ng pagpili para sa mga moderator at masiguro ang kompidensiyal na pagkuha ng mga tanong sa debate mula sa iba’t ibang grupo ng sektor.