In less than a month, the ball game will officially begin.
This May 9, the Philippines will elect its new set of leaders. From national, up to local officers, registered voters will decide the fate of our country in the next six years. To help them make an informed decision, the media as the fourth estate has always tailed and recorded the movements of aspirants, especially those vying for the top 2 positions of the land: the Presidency and Vice Presidency.
But due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the current surge linked to the Omicron variant, little is still known about big media’s coverage plans for this year’s polls, as well as all of the primers that they have in store for us.
For this special 2022 elections piece, it’s time to list down and analyze the numerous possibilities and things that are needed to be done for one of the major election primers: the debates.
The 2016 debates
Before going further, let’s back track a bit and revisit the most-recent Presidential polls that was the 2016 elections.
First off, the Presidential debates.
Last time around, the three TV networks (ABS-CBN, TV5, and GMA) were each assigned by the COMELEC a particular island group for the event. They had Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, respectively. While the order was reversed, with GMA having the opening salvo, and ABS getting the last round. As for the longest of the three, TV5 surely did as it was marred by a controversial delay, which saw it bumped to more than two hours from its initial schedule. The TV stations also had partner media organizations in print and digital.
Second box to tick, the Vice Presidential debates.
In 2016, CNN Philippines staged the first one, which featured quite a lot of memorable scenes. From shady answers, up to the heckling of audience members over certain figure(s), there’s alot to unpack in this special program.
Following that, ABS-CBN staged another one inside the network’s premises in Quezon City. For the network, it actually served as their appetizer for the Presidential debates that took place the following week after the Kapamilya-produced VP debates.
Third (and perhaps, also in terms of importance this year), the Senatorial debates.
In 2016, there were two examples of such. First is ‘The Leader I Want’ series, primarily hosted by Rappler, and the another being ANC’s ‘The Rundown 2016.’
The possibilities
As of the moment, there are still no words from any station or major publication, and even the COMELEC for their concrete plans for a debate. But as of the latest development, ABS-CBN, through its careers website, has opened up positions related to the production of the 2022 political debates. Still, little is known about the whole plan.
Given what we all saw in 2016, it is likely that all aspirants of three major positions (President, VP, and Senator) will have their turn to speak their minds out this year. But preliminaries could also take place, should the surge be suppressed earlier than expected.
Sans the Omicron surge, there were already two possible formats presented since last year. One is a normal face-to-face format, albeit with a limited audience or a totally closed-door approach. While the other one being a so-called hybrid; whereas, either the candidates or other members of the public will be joining the town hall via digital methods.
Broadcast-wise, with the absence of ABS-CBN channel 2, a Kapamilya-produced debate event will presumably be aired on A2Z, among other platforms. As for TV5 and GMA, the two will surely do the same and may perhaps simulcast the event over at their sister channels.
Digital streaming is also immensely probable, with the COMELEC already revving up an online space for rallies, on top of the already robust social media presence of traditional media companies.
The needs
The production of a safe event is already a given need and priority amidst the current state of the country. With or without audience, at the end of the day, it’s the substance of the thoughts presented that should matter during the debates.
While we’re at it, the system of live fact-checking must be incorporated this time around. Already seen in the USA during pressers aired on news networks, LFC would help big time to debunk rumors, propaganda, and downright fake news that may be spread by candidates for the sake of an argument. Not only would that be greatly beneficial to live viewers, but it will do the same in suppressing these unwanted pieces of misinformation from further circulation. But to prevent the notion of a perceived bias, a third-party firm, aside from the broadcaster, should be assigned to do the LFC.
Speaking of broadcast, may all the big networks (and even niche networks) sign up to simulcast the debates (most importantly the ones involving Presidential aspirants), no matter who is producing the event.
For example, GMA’s production could be aired at the same time on A2Z, TV5, among other broadcasters. Such move would allow for maximum reach to the Filipino voters across the archipelago. On top of that, may radio networks align themselves for the same agenda.
In conclusion
As much as our votes are fundamental to the electoral process, staging debates are integral to it as well. Those events are not, and should not, only be a venue for meme-worthy moments and entertaining remarks. Instead, these should be seen as concrete evidences of the candidates’ stance on pressing national issues and their plans to solve those; as well as the promises that they have to fulfill before us, their fellow countrymen, and our country in the next six years.
May the future debates be the guiding light of our decisions come May 9.