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Comelec to give proponents, oppositors of proposed division of Palawan chance to reach the public via radio
Comelec to give proponents, oppositors of proposed division of Palawan chance to reach the public via radio
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is unlikely to conduct debates between the proponents and oppositors regarding the proposed division of Palawan.
But Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez assured that the opposing sides will be given an opportunity to reach the public via radio.
"There will likely be no debate…We still need to be cautious because of the pandemic but we will make sure that the opposing sides are given an opportunity to reach the public via radio," he said in a virtual press briefing Thursday, March 4.
"Comelec will be conducting air campaign starting next week. That's the platform for pro and anti," added Jimenez.
The poll official said radio is the best mass medium because of internet connectivity issues in Palawan.
"Comelec will be hitting every radio station in Palawan throughout the week before the plebiscite. Look out for that," Jimenez said.
On March 2, the poll watchdog group Legal Network for Truthful Elections (Lente) has called on the Comelec to conduct debates between opposing parties through the four major local radio stations in the province to ensure that more Palaweños have access to vital information when they troop to the schools to vote on March 13 for the Palawan Plebiscite.
"Based on our observations and discussions with numerous stakeholders, it was found that the information about the advantages and disadvantages of dividing Palawan remains extremely limited," the group said in a statement.
Lente said the inaccessibility of information of the Palaweños was due to the limited face-to-face interactions; no local television channel is focused on the plebiscite information campaign; weak and limited internet connection due to geographical location and/or logistics which have placed some voters at a clear disadvantage; and limited number of audiences during pulong-pulong activities conducted by local Comelec field offices.
"Improved access for the Palaweño voters to sufficient and timely information on the proposed division of Palawan and the conduct of the plebiscite ensures transparency – a hallmark of genuine electoral exercise," said Lente.