19 Feb 2010

POLITICALARENA.COM WEBSITE ON 2010 ELECTIONS CANDIDATES

The Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement with an advocacy group called Politica lArena to promote the education of voters about the political candidates running in the 2010 Philippine elections.

Political Arena maintains a website www.politicalarena.com that provides .information on the candidates running for the Presidency, Vice Presidency, and Senate in the May 2010 national elections.

The website lists the eleven (11) presidential, eight (8) vice presidential, and sixty-two (62) senatorial candidates and provides their background, political affiliation, and political agenda. It also tracks the candidates’ campaign calendars and campaign announcements, and posts information and content (video and print) provided by the candidates.

To give the voter a substantial understanding of what the candidates stand for, the website collates the statements of the candidates on key issues: charter change, the economy, education, environmental sustainability, foreign relations, gender equality, graft and corruption, health care, labor and employment, local governance, marginalized sectors, maternal health, the conflict in Mindanao, the National Government, population control, poverty, and the youth.

Consul General Eva G. Betita said that the website’s informative content will help Filipino voters know and understand the platforms of the candidates. “We have .to make our vote be an informed decision, as we are participating in the election of the leaders who will steer our country in the next six years,” said Consul General Betita.

The Consul General also said that information about the procedure for voting in the coming 2010 elections will be posted in the Consulate’s website as soon as the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) releases the information.