THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
’04 
flu6 -4. 
P3 :I6 
First Replar Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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Theconstitution, Article 3, Section 7 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. 
Batas Pambansa Blg. 881 a.k.a. the “Omnibus Election Code of the Philippine 
90 to 93, likewise recognizes the importance of this right, by providing for T 
opportunities to inform the people ofthe qualifications 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 the mass media; and (3) formulate the guidelines for the 
adoption of the best format for the debates. 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
‘54 
nu5 -4 P 3 I 6  
First Regular Session 
1 
SECTION 3. DeJinition ofTerms. -As used in this Act: 
(1) “Candidate” refers to any person aspiring for or seeking an eleciive 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
public 
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AN ACT 
TO ESTABLISH THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE COMMISSION 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assem bled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Presidential Debate Reform 
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Act.” 
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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 4. Establishment of Presidential Debate Commission. - 
(1) 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 regular election to be held in 2004), a Presidential Debate Commission 
(hereafter referred to as the “Commission”) shall be appointed in accordance with this section 
with respect to such election. 
(2) MEMBERSHIP - 


(A) IN GENEML - The Commission shall be cornposerl/ of six (6) 
members appointed as follows, 
(i) One (1) member shall be appointed by the Speaker o f  the 
House, 
(ii) One (1) member shall be appointed by the House Majority 
Leader, who shall not be a member of the Majority Leader’s political 
Party; 
(iii)One (1) member shall be appointed by the President of the 
Senate; 
(iv)One (1) member shall be appointed by the Majority Leader of 
the Senate; and 
(v) Two (2) members shall be appointed by the President from 
among a list of nominees submitted by the two (2) dominant political 
parties. 
Provided, that, the members to be appointed in the preceding items (a), 
(b), (c), and (d) 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 appointees shall come from any political party. Provided, final y, that the 
appointees, shall as much as possible come from the different sectors rovided in 
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paragraph (2) (B) ofthis Section. 
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(B) QUALIFICATIONS - Members of the Commission may be from the 
public or private sector, and may include national or local government officers or 
employee, members of the academe, nonprofit organizations, or other interested 
individuals. 
(C) VACANCIES - Any vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the 
original appointment not later than ten (10) days after the vacancy occurs. 
(D) COMPENSATION - Members of the Commission shall receive a per 
diem of Five Hundred Pesos (P500.00) for each day of attendance in the 


(P5,OOO.OO) per month. 
(3) POWERS; MEETINGS - Except as provided in subsection (4) 
about the candidates to the voting public. 
..decisions 
(C) The Commission shall coordinate with the different governmen agencies 
charged with the enforcement and administration of all laws relative to the conduct o elections 
for the purpose of ensuring free, orderly, and honest elections, and with other organizations or 
associations concerned with the elections. 
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(D) 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. 


(E) 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. 
(F) The Commission shall, afrer taking into consideration all 
evaluation reports, formulate guidelines for the adoption of a debate format 
candidates. The format of debates shall be decided by the Commission. 
(C) PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES 
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Presidential debates shall xke place 
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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. 
(7) TERMINATION - Each Conmission appointed under this section shall 
terminate on the date following the day of the election for which the Commission was appointed. 
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SECTION 5. Appropriations. - There are authorized to be 
Commission appointed under this Act such sums as may be necessary to 
with respect to the election involved:' 
SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision, or part hereof, 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 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. 
Fn: 1855