Friday, April 5, 2013

Women candidates share insights during forum


DAVAO CITY April 5 (PIA)- Two lady candidates vying for two different elective positions in Davao City shared their platforms and visions of governance during the recently held today (April 5) Candidates Forum held at the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) regional office in Davao City.

The attendees to the first Candidates Forum were Joji Ilagan Bian, an independent candidate who is running for the congressional seat of the second district of Davao City and Maria Belen Acosta, a candidate under the Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod political party vying for one of the eight seats in the Sangguniang Panglungsod (City Council) allocated to the City’s first district.

“Candidates Forum is  a PIA’s production in support of Comelec Resolution 598 which deputizes government agencies particularly the PIA to assist the Commission on Elections in the conduct of the 2013 elections.” Says PIA-XI Regional Director Efren F. Elbanbuena.

The Forum gives the candidates to talk about their platforms and answer pressing issues in the presence of the members of the Davao media, it is also broadcasted live on DXRP- Radyo ng Bayan.

According to Dir. Elbanbuena, the forum will be thematic in nature, with  the recently held media forum titled “Women in Politics” featured lady candidates in the city’s elective positions.  The second Candidates Forum to be held next Friday (April 12) titled “Families in Politics” will feature family members serving in politics.

Another planned theme is “media in politics” which will put the spotlight on members of the media who have thrown their hat in the political ring. 

During the “Women in Politics” forum Bian talked about providing more Human Development Services to constituents in the second district of Davao City and if elected into office as a congresswoman she will push for the increase of government budget for college education.  She said that the woman’s candidate ability to multi-task and her preference for consensus leadership is one of the advantages of a female leader.

While Mabel Acosta vowed to pursue the continuing improvement of education in the City as part of her advocacy, she is also planning to draft a localized Freedom of Information bill which can be used by the local media. Among her platform is to direct government support to micro-financing that could help spur enterprise development creating jobs and livelihood among the residents in the city.

Bian and Acosta were only the two candidates who responded to the Candidate’s Forum invitation; Bian is a businesswoman, among her businesses is an education institution known for its tourism-related and technical vocational courses while Acosta, was a local television personality before she joined politics serving the City Council for three consecutive terms. (RG Alama/PIA XI)

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