THE UNIVERSITY will again serve as a venue for election fora, this time the policy debate being organized by News5 and affiliate cable channels OnePH and OneNews on March 23, the Varsitarian has learned.
The 7 p.m. debate will focus on key policy issues, particularly the West Philippine Sea maritime conflict and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement between the United States and the Philippines.
Officials of News5, the news division of TV5, and One PH and OneNews, led by journalism alumnus Patrick Paez, inspected the Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, O.P. Building lobby, the venue for the forum, on Feb. 28.
A number of senatorial candidates are expected to attend the policy forum.
The Varsitarian has also learned that a watch party will be held at Plaza Mayor, which will be hosted by OneNews anchors Gretchen Ho and Lourd de Veyra, a UST alumnus and former Varsitarian staff member.
A total of 66 candidates are vying for 12 Senate seats in the upcoming elections. Among them are Thomasians: UST political science faculty member Angelo de Alban and UST alumnus and ex-Marcos aide Vic Rodriguez, both lawyers.
UST hosted the 2022 presidential and vice-presidential debates at the Quadricentennial Pavilion, though the event had a limited live audience due to Covid-19 restrictions.
That debate, organized by the now-defunct CNN Philippines, featured nine presidential aspirants and seven vice-presidential bets.
UST has partnered with multiple media networks for the 2025 midterm elections.
In November 2024, it signed a covenant with GMA Network for its “Dapat Totoo” campaign, pledging to deliver credible news about the elections.
In January, the University partnered with ABS-CBN and 31 other institutions to ensure “peaceful, clean, and orderly” polls.
The May 12 midterm elections will decide contests over 18,000 elected posts — 12 senators and 17,942 governors, provincial board members, mayors, and councilors.
