By Lou Ellen Antonio

ILIGAN CITY (PIA) –-The Commission on Elections, in collaboration with the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Education, Iligan City Police Office, Philippine Information Agency, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, held a Candidates' Fora for aspiring councilors, mayor, vice mayor and congressman in the City.

COMELEC Acting City Election Officer Atty. Joel Dexter Nagtalon said that the event was an opportunity for aspiring candidates to introduce themselves and present their platforms to the people. 

“This forum was envisioned to provide a fair platform for all concerned candidates to introduce or reintroduce themselves to the voters and to expand their vision platforms of government and advocacies in order to uplift the standards of living for all Iliganons and the community in general,” he said.

Only 13 aspiring councilors participated in the said fora of the 49 candidates. Of the nine poll bets for mayoral position, only three candidates joined. They are from the Tatak Iliganon political party, Alyansa sa Bag-ong Iligan and one independent candidate. Moreover, only two candidates for vice mayoral position participated in the fora out of four candidates. The two candidates running for the congressman position did not attend. 

Meanwhile, Department of Interior and Local Government City Director Edward Bhagwani encouraged the public to exercise their right to vote and to choose leaders who can help solve the problems in the community.

“Mga kaigsoonan, this is a very important undertaking karong May 9. Ayaw intawon mo kasayop, kay kung masayop ta, magbalik-balik atong problema na dugay na nato nakita na problema, dugay hisgotan sa atong mga kandidato, apan wala pa ta nakahaw-as sa mga kalisod na wala nila nakita,” he said. 

[Brothers and sisters, this is a very important undertaking on May 9. Don't make mistakes, because if we make mistakes, we will repeat our problems that we have seen for a long time, that our candidates will discuss for a long time, as we have not yet overcome the difficulties that they have not seen.]

The candidate also chose questions by drawing lots with topics on Peace and Order Situation, Economic - Related Development, Insufficient Basic Services, Graft and Corruption, Eco-Tourism, Agricultural Issues, Environmental Issues, Traffic, Moral Degeneration and Political Reform. (LELA/ PIA Lanao del Norte)