GMA Network teams up with various partners for #Eleksyon2016

GMA Network is teaming up with partners in media, the academe, government and other sectors for its coverage of the 2016 presidential elections.

A memorandum of understanding  was signed on Thursday by 21 organizations, including the Commission of Elections (Comelec) and known outfits in the media, the academe, telecommunications, and election watchdogs.

Along with GMA Network, these are:

• Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT)
• Smart Communications, Inc.
• Philippine Daily Inquirer
• Inquirer Interactive, Inc.
• Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ)
• Catholic Media Network
• Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV)
• National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL)
• University of the Philippines
• Polytechnic University of the Philippines
• Ateneo de Manila University
• De La Salle University
• University of Santo Tomas
• AMA Education Systems Holdings, Inc.
• Waze Mobile Limited
• Viber Philippines
• Youth Vote Philippines
• PEP.ph
• Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands
• Philippine Bar Association

Also among signatories are GMA Network and its subsidiaries:

• GMA Kapuso Foundation, Inc.
• GMA New Media, Inc.
• GMA News Online and Social Media
• Radio dzBB
• RGMA
• GMA Pinoy TV
• GMA Life TV
• GMA News TV International

'Crucial point'

In his speech, GMA Network chairman and CEO Felipe L. Gozon pointed out that next year's elections "is happening at a crucial period when the flow of information is becoming more dynamic, freer, and faster than ever before."

He noted that in the midst of having both online and traditional media coverage for the polls, GMA and its partners will stick to their promise "to cover the elections... driven only by the calling towards public service."

Gozon also said the partnership with various groups is a manifestation of a common commitment "to a comprehensive, accurate and credible Eleksyon 2016 coverage."

He added: "Our partnership has been tested and has proven to be rock-solid over the years. This is why we are all very confident that while we may have a formidable task ahead of us, together we will succeed, as before, to deliver to each and every Filipino who continues to believe in the power of democracy."



'Active partner in democracy'

Comelec chair Andres Bautista highlighted initiatives for this coming elections, including the poll body's hosting of presidential and vice presidential debates, with the help of media networks.

"We want to create and institutionalize venues that can improve the candidate-voter interaction and deepen public discourse on present-day issues. This will be our contribution to usher in our election towards program- and policy-based politics," he said.

He added: "The progress that the Comelec has made in our public-private endeavors in the last couple of months show that the private sector can evolve from being a mere spectator to an active partner in democracy. It is this challenge that we intend to hurl before the coalition of partners here." — BM, GMA News