On Tuesday 5 March BBC World Questions will come to the Philippines to debate the country’s political and economic future in the country’s capital, Manila.

National security, relations with China and the USA, constitutional reform, economic development and the environment will all be up for discussion with a panel of leading politicians, campaigners and academics.

The BBC World Service programme, which puts people and their questions at the heart of the debate, will be presented by the BBC Correspondent, Jonny Dymond. Jonny will chair the hour-long debate which will be led by questions from the live audience.

The panel will include:
• Hon. Gilberto Teodoro Jr – Secretary for National Defence
• Ms Rafaela David – President of the Akbayan Citizens' Action Party
• Atty. Antonio Carpio – Former associate justice of the Supreme Court
• Professor Richard Heydarian – Journalist and senior lecturer at the University of the Philippines

Gwenan Roberts, Commissioning Editor, BBC World Service English, says: “Our World Service listeners are always keen to hear about the issues that matter to people locally and understand more about the country we’re visiting so we eagerly await what World Questions in the Philippines will bring.”

The programme will be recorded in front of a live audience on Tuesday 5 March at the Diamond Hotel, Roxas Boulevard, Corner Dr. J. Quintos Street, Manila.

There will be a reception beforehand with refreshments starting at 6.00pm. Register to be in the audience HERE: https://www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/shows/world-questions-05mar24

BBC World Questions: Philippines will be broadcast on World Service English on Saturday 9 March. It will be available online at www.bbc.com/worldserviceradio, on BBC Sounds and most other podcast providers. It is produced by Helen Towner.