The second leg of Pilipinas Debates 2016 is expected to be more comprehensive and exciting with its improved format.
Presidential candidates who have confirmed their attendance are Vice President Jejomar Binay, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Senator Grace Poe and former Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas.
Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, on the other hand, announced earlier that she can't make it to the debate due to health reasons.
READ: Miriam Defensor-Santiago to skip presidential debate
FORMAT OF VISAYAS DEBATE. For the first round of the debate, each candidates will be given two minutes to answer the questions of the panelists.
But for every question to a certain candidate, the other participants will be given a chance to throw a rebuttal for 30 seconds.
The second round is bound to be more exciting as the candidates themselves will be given the chance to quiz fellow participants in the debate.
Each candidate will be given 15 seconds to throw their question to be answered by the concerned participant within a three-minute time limit.
In a recent interview, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Andres Bautista said that the extended timeslot for the second presidential debate will give enough time for the candidates to lay out what they can offer to the country and answer issues being thrown against them.
“Malaking bagay na kanilang dadagdagan yung oras, from 2 hours to 3 hours,” said Bautista.
“At hindi dadagdagan yung mga commercial.
“So, mabibigyan ng mas maraming pagkakataon yung mga kandidato para makapagpaliwanag.”
TOPICS. Some of the issues to be tackled at the Visayas debate are prevalence of corruption in the government, climate change, education, and healthcare system.
Co-hosted by TV5 and The Philippine Star, the second leg of Pilipinas Debates 2016 will be held at University of the Philippines in Cebu.
Catch the live telecast on TV5 at 5:00 p.m. today, March 21.
To learn more about the presidential candidates, read about their stand in a variety of topics discussed during the first leg of presidential debate in Mindanao last February 21.