Rock the Vote News Release

Below Par: Lim and Erap engage in word war at UP Manila
By Charlotte Velasco, RTV correspondent

The burning rivalry intensifies.

Contenders vying for position of Manila mayor, incumbent mayor Alfredo Lim and former president Joseph "Erap" Ejercito-Estrada, confronted each other once more in a debate held at the Little Theater, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Manila (UPM) this afternoon.

This debate, entitled "Thrilla in UP Manila: Lim versus Erap", was hosted by UPM-Good Neighbors Initiative, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Public Health, Manila Studies Program, and the Department of Social Sciences. Although the event was intended to be an avenue for the candidates to declare their agenda to the electorate, the excessive mudslinging defeated the purpose.
However, while the candidates take unrestrained turns at denying the truth of each other’s claims, many UP Manila students failed to seize the opportunity to take part in the forum. Supporters from both parties and media workers flocked early inside the venue, thus leaving not enough space for the students.
With the time shortage caused by Lim and Erap’s constant bickering and the lack of student attendance, the concerns of the student body were not properly presented.

As a result, the candidates failed to present their concrete plans, if they have any, on the immediate issues of education and public health within Manila.
Their stand on specific problems such as the tuition and other fees increases in UP Manila and the Class D fees in the Philippine General Hospital, were not duly brought into question.
By and large, the rationale of a healthy debate was not accordingly met. Both sides settled for backbiting instead of informing the public of their platform and political stance in significant issues.

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