Republic of the Philippines

BULACAN STATE UNIVERSITY BUSTOS CAMPUS

Bustos, Bulacan

Local Commission on Student Elections

and
The Forerunner

JOINT MEMORANDUM ORDER NO. 2023-01

FOR: All candidates for Governor, Vice Governor and Board Members of the 2023
Local Student Council Election of the Bulacan State University Bustos
Campus; and candidates for President and Vice President of the 2023 Supreme
Student Council Election

DATE: _______________

SUBJECT: Conduct of the Candidates’ Debate on __ April 2023

All candidates for Governor, Vice Governor and Board Members of the 2023 Local Student
Council Election of the Bulacan State University Bustos Campus, and candidates for
President and Vice President of the 2023 Supreme Student Council Election are required to
participate in the Candidates’ Debate on __ April 2023, 2:00 in the afternoon, at Activity
Center, Bulacan State University Bustos Campus.

Failure to participate will be subject to applicable sanctions as prescribed by the Student

Election Code.

The format of the debates is as follows:

FIRST DEBATE (44 minutes)

Candidates for Board Members
Modified Parliamentary Style

Mechanics:

1. Prior to the debate, the parties who will be designated as the First and Second
Parties will be determined by virtue of a coin toss.

2. The theme of the debate is “Two-party system sa Student Govermment:

Demokratiko ba o napapanahon nang buwagin?” For reference, see § 5, Article
III, Student Government Constitution and Bylaws.

3. Each party will choose from among themselves the order of speakers: who shall be
first, second and so forth.

4. For this debate, the Forerunner will select the moderator from among its members.

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 5. Moderator introduces the candidates alternately between the First and Second
Parties.

6. Candidates seat opposite each other. Two lecterns will be provided; one for each
team. The podium will be used by the candidates when delivering a speech, when
conducting an interpellation, and when answering questions during interpellation.

7. Candidates will address the moderator when speaking or when asking questions.

8. Moderator begins the debate by stating the question: “Why should student voters
choose your party over the other?”

9. The debate flow is as follows:

a. 2-minute First Constructive Speech from the First Party: The First Speaker of the
First Party speaks.

b. 1-minute Interpellation: Any member of the Second Party questions the First
Party’s First Speaker.

c. 2-minute First Constructive Speech from the Second Party: The First Speaker of
the Second Party speaks.

d. 1-minute Interpellation: Any member of the First Party questions the Second
Party’s First Speaker.

e. 2-minute Second Speech from the First Party: The Second Speaker of the First
Party speaks.

f. 1-minute Interpellation: Any member of the Second Party questions the First
Party’s Second Speaker.

g. 2-minute Second Speech from the Second Party: The Second Speaker of the
Second Party speaks.

h. 1-minute Interpellation: Any member of the First Party questions the Second
Party’s Second Speaker.

i. 2-minute Third Speech from the First Party: The Third Speaker of the First Party
speaks.

j. 1-minute Interpellation: Any member of the Second Party questions the First
Party’s Third Speaker.

k. 2-minute Third Speech from the Second Party: The Third Speaker of the Second
Party speaks.

l. 1-minute Interpellation: Any member of the First Party questions the Second
Party’s Third Speaker.

m. 2-minute Fourth Speech from the First Party: The Fourth Speaker of the First
Party speaks.

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 n. 1-minute Interpellation: Any member of the Second Party questions the First
Party’s Fourth Speaker.

o. 2-minute Fourth Speech from the Second Party: The Fourth Speaker of the
Second Party speaks.

p. 1-minute Interpellation: Any member of the First Party questions the Second
Party’s Fourth Speaker.

q. 2-minute Fifth Speech from the First Party: The Fifth Speaker of the First Party
speaks.

r. 1-minute Interpellation: Any member of the Second Party questions the First
Party’s Fifth Speaker.

s. 2-minute Fifth Speech from the Second Party: The Fifth Speaker of the Second
Party speaks.

t. 1-minute Interpellation: Any member of the First Party questions the Second
Party’s Fifth Speaker.

u. 2-minute Sixth Speech from the First Party: The Sixth Speaker of the First Party
speaks.

v. 1-minute Interpellation: Any member of the Second Party questions the First
Party’s Sixth Speaker.

w. 2-minute Sixth Speech from the Second Party: The Sixth Speaker of the Second
Party speaks.

x. 1-minute Interpellation: Any member of the First Party questions the Second
Party’s Sixth Speaker.

y. 2-minute Seventh Speech from the First Party: The Seventh Speaker of the First
Party speaks.

z. 1-minute Interpellation: Any member of the Second Party questions the First
Party’s Seventh Speaker.

aa. 2-minute Rebuttal Speech from the Second Party: The Seventh Speaker of the
Second Party gives the rebuttal speech and closing statement.

bb. 3-minute Rebuttal Speech from the First Party: The Seventh Speaker of the First
Party gives the rebuttal speech and closing statement.

SECOND DEBATE (30 minutes)

Vice Gubernatorial
Presidential-Type

Mechanics:

1. Two lecterns will be provided: one for each candidate.

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 2. Each debate will be divided into three segments of 10 minutes each. Each segment
will cover one particular topic:
a. Segment One: “Track record, qualifications, and readiness to assume the
Office of the Governor in the event of vacancy.”
b. Segment Two: “More than tokenism1: Empowering students in the crafting of
ordinances and resolutions of the Local Student Council.”
c. Segment Three: “Proposed University System Bill, and autonomy of external
campuses including their local student councils.”

3. The debate will be facilitated by three (3) moderators from the Forerunner chosen
from among its members by themselves. A moderator will be assigned to facilitate
one segment.

4. Each segment will consist of two lead questions based on the segment’s given topic.
The moderator assigned to facilitate the segment will formulate the two lead questions
and none of those questions will be shared with anyone.

5. The moderator will ask the lead question then each candidate will have one minute to
respond.

6. The first candidate to speak will be determined by coin toss conducted before the
debate.

7. Then the moderator will ask follow-up questions to facilitate a 3-minute open
discussion between the two candidates.

THIRD DEBATE (30 minutes)

Gubernatorial
Town Hall Format

Mechanics:

1. The debate will give student voters a chance to directly ask the candidates questions.
Student organization presidents of the Bustos Campus will comprise the town hall
participants. Their questions will drive the debate and the moderator’s goal is to give
the conversation direction and to ensure questions get answered.

2. Questions from the participants will neither be screened nor shared with other
candidates or participants.

3. Participants will be seated in a theatre-in-the-round (semi-circle) setting.

4. Two highchairs will be provided at the middle for the candidates to seat on.

5. The Forerunner will select the moderator from among its members.
1
Tokenism is a so-called participatory measure, which is symbolic in nature, to give an “appearance” of
inclusiveness. This is designed to placate the members of the community by tricking them into thinking that
they are participating in the political process although, to the contrary, they have no genuine participation in
reality. — see Farnham, K. (2014). The Ladder of Citizen Participation. Catalytic Communities | CatComm.
https://catcomm.org/ladder-participation/

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 6. The moderator will call the name of the participant by drawing of lots. The lots will
be prepared beforehand and witnessed by each of the campaign team’s representative.

7. The participant whose name is called will pose a question; however, only the
moderator can ask follow-up question/s.

8. The first candidate to speak will be determined by coin toss conducted before the
debate.

9. The candidates will each have one minute to respond to the question and there will be
an additional one minute for the moderator to facilitate further discussion, for a total
of three minutes per question.

10. A maximum of ten participants will be called to pose questions.

FOURTH DEBATE (15 minutes)

Vice Presidential
Presidential-Type

Mechanics:

1. Two lecterns will be provided: one for each candidate.

2. Each debate will be divided into three segments of 5 minutes each. Each segment will
cover one particular topic:
a. Segment One: “Track record, qualifications, and readiness to assume the
presidency in the event of vacancy.”
b. Segment Two: “Equal representation of satellite campuses in the Supreme
Student Council Senate.”
c. Segment Three: “Proposed University System Bill, and autonomy external
campuses including their local student councils.”

3. The debate will be facilitated by three (3) moderators from the Forerunner chosen
from among its members by themselves. Each moderator will be assigned to facilitate
one segment.

4. Each segment will consist of one lead question based on the segment’s given topic.
The moderator assigned to facilitate the segment will formulate the lead question,
which will not be shared with anyone.

5. The moderator will ask the lead question then each candidate will have one minute to
respond.

6. The first candidate to speak will be determined by coin toss conducted before the
debate.

7. Then the moderator will ask follow-up questions to facilitate a 3-minute open
discussion between the two candidates.

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 FIFTH DEBATE (15 minutes)
Presidential
Presidential-Type

Mechanics:

1. Two lecterns will be provided: one for each candidate.

2. Each debate will be divided into three segments of 5 minutes each. Each segment will
cover one particular topic:
a. Segment One: “Fiscal (budgetary and financial) autonomy of the Local
Student Councils in satellite campuses.”
b. Segment Two: “Two-party or multi-party system.”
c. Segment Three: “Proposed University System Bill, and autonomy of external
campuses including their local student councils.”

3. The debate will be facilitated by three (3) moderators from the Forerunner chosen
from among its members by themselves. Each moderator will be assigned to facilitate
one segment.

4. Each segment will consist of one lead question based on the segment’s given topic.
The moderator assigned to facilitate the segment will formulate the lead question,
which will not be shared with anyone.

5. The moderator will ask the lead question then each candidate will have one minute to
respond.

6. The first candidate to speak will be determined by coin toss conducted before the
debate.

7. Then the moderator will ask follow-up questions to facilitate a 3-minute open
discussion between the two candidates.

SO ORDERED,

Pamela Kayea C. Sangangbayan

Commissioner
Local Commission on Student Elections

Carlo Santos
Acting Editor-in-Chief
Forerunner

Noted:

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 Engr. Raevinor R. Gonzales
Student Affairs Coordinator

Approved:

Ciriaco M. Garcia, Ph.D.

Campus Dean