MANILA, FEBRUARY 18, 2013 – The day after senatoriables from the Liberal Party and United Nationalist Alliance declared their candidacies, TV5, under parent company Mediaquest, launched Pagbabago 2013, the alliance of media-civil society and private groups.
Pagbabago 2013 aims to lead in one of the most comprehensive coverage of the coming elections with the participation of highly respected private and civil society organizations in the Philippines to help provide the quickest polling and result updates come May 13.
The event at the Genting Club, Resorts World Manila gathered some of the biggest names in media, business and politics. Seasoned journalists and industry leaders came in full force to confirm their commitment towards the conduct of free and honest elections. Present during the launch were: the Commission on Elections (COMELEC, led by chairman Sixto Brillantes), the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL, represented by national chairperson Corazon de la Paz-Bernardo), Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE, represented by acting executive director and acting national co-convenor Atty. Luie Tito Guia), the Parish Pastoral Council of Responsible Voting (PPCRV, led by chairperson Ambassador Henrietta De Villa).
NEWS5 chief Luchi Cruz-Valdez said that one of the aims of the Pagbabago 2013 is to cover the local government elections. “People are uninformed about what’s going on in the local level.” The local perception was inspired by Jesse Robredo’s “tsinelas leadership” approach, which inspired Naga locals and the nation as a whole to aspire for a humble leader.
Penny Robredo-Bondoc, the late Department of Interior and Local Government secretary’s sister, also attended the launch and exhorted journalists present at the event that the kind of election coverage can help citizens make an informed choice, saying, that what the Filipino needs is “empowerment and not dependence.”
“NEWS5 has brought together a formidable coalition of independent organizations to help ensure that this year’s elections are peaceful, honest and fair,” TV5 chairman Manny V. Pangilinan said. “More than providing voters with information, Pagbabago 2013 urges all Filipino voters to actively participate in the electoral process and to remain vigilant in safeguarding their votes. At the end of the day, what we hope to attain is a conscientious electorate that are able to put their candidates into account for their promises of good governance even long after Election Day.”
NEWS5 strongly advocates voter education and empowerments via truthful and complete information. As such, Filipino voters can count on TV5’s Pagbabago 2013 as they protect and exercise their right to vote.
Pagbabago 2013 demonstrates NEWS5’s nationwide reach in reporting the events surrounding the 2013 midterm elections at the national, provincial, city and municipal levels. Through the technology prowess of telecommunication giants PLDT, SMART Communications, Sun Cellular and ePLDT, Filipinos around the world will be able to access Pagbabago 2013’s real-time reports.
