Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No. 5269

Introduced by Representative ESTRELLITA “GING” B. SUANSING

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article III Section 7 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution 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 voting
population would be able to carefully choose their future leaders.

Sections 90 to 93 of Batas Pambansa Bilang 881, otherwise known as
the “Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines,” likewise recognize the
importance of this right, by providing for venues and opportunities to inform
the people of the qualification of candidates.

This bill complements these laws by seeking to establish a Presidential
Debate Commission 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 Presidential Debate Commission shall also obligate all
Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates to participate in the debates
and, thus, will help the voting population discern who to vote for.


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 our country.

Hence, approval of this bill is carnestly sought,

ESTRELLITA B. SUANS
1s District, Nueva Ecije

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No.__5269

Introduced by Representative ESTRELLITA “GING” B. SUANSING

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE COMMISSION

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the

Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Presidential
Debate Reform Act.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. ~ It is the policy of the State to recognize
the right of the people to information on matters of public concern.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:

(A) “Candidate” refers to any person aspiring for or seeking an elective
public office, who has filed a certificate of candidacy by himself or
through an accredited political party, group, or coalition of parties;
and

(B) “Regular Election” refers to the election for President and Vice
President, which, unless otherwise provided by law, shall be held on

the second Monday of May.
SECTION 4. Establishment of Presidential Debate Commission. -

(A) Establishment. - Not later than one (1) year before the date of each
general election for the offices of President and Vice President of the
Republic of the Philippines, beginning with the next national


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(B)

election, in which the President and Vice President shall be elected,
a Presidential Debate Commission, hereafter referred to as the
“Commission,” shall be appointed in accordance with this section
with respect to such election.
Membership. -
(1) In General. - The Commission 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) member shall be appointed by the House
Majority Leader, who shall not be a member of the
Majority Leader’s political party;
(c) One (1) member shall be appointed by the President of
the Senate;
(4) One (1) member shall be appointed by the Majority
Leader of the Senate; and
(ce) Two (2) members shall be appointed by the President
from among a list of nominees by the two (2) dominant

political parties,

Provided, That, the members to be appointed in the preceding
items (a), (b), (), and (a) shall not be members of the same political
parties from which the appointees of the President will be selected.
Provided, further, that not more than three (3) appointees shall come
from any political party. Provided, finally, that the appointees, shall as
much as possible come from the different sectors provided in
paragraph (B)(2) of this Section.

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.

(2) Qualifications. - Members of the Commission may be from the

public or private sector, and may include national or local

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government officers or employee, members of the academe,

nonprofit organizations, or other interested individuals.

(3) Vacancies. - Any vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as
the original appointment not later than ten (10) days after the
vacancy occurs.

(4) Compensation. - Members of the Commission shall receive a per
diem of Five Hundred Pesos (P500.00) for each day of
attendance in the Commission and actual travelling expenses
not exceeding Five Thousand Pesos (P5,000.00) per month.

(C) Powers; Meetings. - Except as provided in subparagraph (D),
decisions made by the Commission shall be made by consent of no
less than four (4) of the commissioners. The Commission shall meet
at a time and a site agreed upon by no less than four (4) of the
members.

(D)

Staffing. - The Commission shall be responsible for maintaining its
own secretariat as well as such other staff as it may deem necessary.
Except those detailed from other government offices, the tenure of
office of the regular staff of the secretariat shall be coterminous with

the tenure of the Commission.

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.

(E) Duties. -
(1) It shall be the duty of the Commission to establish a schedule of
debate in accordance with subsection (F) as follows:
(2) One (1) preliminary debate;
(b) Not more than two (2) Vice Presidential debates;
(c) Not less than two (2) but not more than four (4)
Presidential debates.
(2)The Commission shall decide on the format of the debates

taking into consideration the most efficient and effective way to

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provide useful and necessary information about the candidates
to the voting public.

(3) The Commission shall coordinate with the different government
agencies charged with the enforcement and administration of all
laws relative to the conduct of elections for the purpose of
ensuring free, orderly, and honest elections, and with other
organizations or associations concerned with the elections.

(4) The Commission shall, after the termination of its term, submit
a report on the debates conducted, describing in detail the
presentation strategies and techniques used, evaluating the
effectiveness of the format adapted, and recommending the best
format.

(5) The Commission shall closely monitor all other scheduled
debates for Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates
initiated by the mass media or other government agencies or
private organizations, and submit another report evaluating the
effectiveness of said debates.

(6) The Commission shall, after taking into consideration all the
submitted evaluation reports, formulate guidelines for the
adoption of a debate format which will best achieve the policies
adopted by this Act.

(F) Debates Described. -

(1) Preliminary Debates. - A preliminary debate shall take place no
sooner than sixty (60) days and no later than forty-five (45) days
before a Presidential election. The time and place of the
preliminary debate shall be announced by the Commission no
later than ninety (90) days before the scheduled preliminary
debate. A preliminary debate shall involve any person who has
declared himself a candidate for the position of President or Vice
President of the Republic of the Philippines, as determined by
the Commission. The format shall be decided by the
Commission. The attendance by any candidate at the

preliminary debate is optional.

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(2) Vice Presidential Debates. - Vice Presidential debates shall take
place at least seven (7) days following the preliminary debate.
The time and date of all Vice Presidential debates shall be
announced no later than ninety (90) days prior to the first Vice
Presidential debate. The Commission may alter the time and
date of such debates for good cause with the consent of all
members. All Vice Presidential debates shall involve persons
who are bona fide candidates. The format of debates shall be
decided by the Commission.

(3) Presidential Debates. - Presidential debates shall take place no
sooner than seven (7) days following the preliminary debate. The
time and date of all qualified debates shall be announced no
later than ninety (90) days prior to the first scheduled qualified
debate. The Commission may alter the time and date of such
debates for good cause with the consent of all members. The
format of debates shall be decided by the Commission, with at
least one (1) being of the single moderator format, Presidential
debates shall involve persons who are qualified Presidential
candidates.

(G) Termination. - Each Commission appointed under this section shall

terminate on the date following the day of the election for which the

Commission was appointed.

SECTION 5. Appropriations, - There are authorized to be appropriated to
each Commission appointed under this Act such sums as may be necessary
to carry out its activities with respect to the election involved.

SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part thereof is held
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not

otherwise affected shall remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation

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contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed,
modified, or amended accordingly.

SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days

after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.

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