‘Internet voting may end in-person...

When internet voting is introduced in 2025, Garcia said overseas Filipino workers “could still avail of in-person voting and mail-in voting.” But Comelec hopes the new mode of voting would result in a higher voter turnout that would better represent the foreignbased Filipino electorate.

In 2022, the Comelec said the voter turnout for OAV was only 34.88 percent.

Republic Act 10590, the Overseas Voting Act of 2013, gives the commission leeway to consider other modes of voting and if the Comelec sees that internet voting would suffice, then it can decide to scrap the two other modes of casting one’s vote.

Meanwhile, Garcia said that for the 2025 elections, they would be selecting media entities as their debate partners. Amid the controversy surround- ing the 2022 presidential and vice presidential debates in 2022, wherein the Comelec reportedly chose Impact Hub Manila as its partner, Garcia said that to avoid any problems in future election debates they would be partnering with media entities, which is in accordance with the law.

“We should always follow what is stated in the law. According to Republic Act 9006 (Fair Election Act), it is the media entities that should be holding the debates.

Even if the media entities earn a small profit, the Comelec would just be an observer,” said Garcia. He said he believes the debates should be the same as during the 2016 presidential and vice presidential elections when it was handled by different media entities. That year, they did not encounter any problems, nor were there issues “because the media entities shouldered all the expenses and even required the candidates to attend the debate.” 

PAGE A1 affected by 'Mawar' said in a report on TeleRadyo that coastal communities have been alerted and that preparations are under way. The PDDRMO of Batanes said that similar preparations are being done on the island province.

Metro Manila response units ready to assist regions

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority on Thursday said that local disaster response units in the capital have already made preparations, but are also planning for deploying to regions hit by the super typhoon if necessary.

MMDA acting chair Don Artes said then that "what we are really looking at is deploying to help out places outside Metro Manila."

He said that LGUs in the capital region "are already prepared, equipped and trained" and might be needed for operations in areas in the regions that do not have the same resources.

Marcos on Friday said that the national government is "in constant communication with the local governments to see what is the situation in their place — for when the typhoon has passed and the rains have subsided, we will see (what assistance they will need)." Marcos has said in past disaster response operations that he would rather let LGUs and agencies do their work, adding going to calamity sites himself would distract from ongoing relief work. (Philstar.com)

DOT’s new tourism slogan to feature PH as...

PAGE A1 place of our fellow Filipinos regionally,” she added.

the previous administrations in terms of pushing for the existing slogan,” Tourism Secretary Cristina Frasco said in the public forum Kapihan sa Manila Bay.

“But at the same time we would like to give our country an opportunity to reintroduce itself to the world not just as a fun destination, which it will continue to be, but also as a treasure trove of culture, of heritage, of history, of love and warmth and the sheer talent of our artisans, makers, small and medium enterprises, as well as the burning private

“The stories of Filipinos have yet to be told in full, and we intend to do that with an enhanced branding campaign,” Frasco added.

According to Frasco, the DOT is still conducting a “white market study” on the existing tourism campaign and is still in the process of enhancing the campaign — which she stressed would not be launched without consulting stakeholders.

“So this is literally in the works right now,” said Frasco.

However, Frasco clarified that the country’s tourism would not hinge on the DOT’s branding campaign alone, highlighting the importance of product development and improving aspects of the Philippine tourism industry, especially when compared to its neighbors in Southeast Asia.

She also recognized the necessity of tourism investments, reiterating that the country remains open for such, especially after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. opened the country to investment and pledges. 