MANILA - Everything is set for the third and final PiliPinas Presidential debate scheduled on Sunday at the PHINMA University of Pangasinan in Dagupan City.

On Thursday, organizers ABS-CBN, Manila Bulletin and Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) held the first of two media briefings at the Commission of Elections (Comelec) to update the public on the preparations.

Here are what you can expect from the final leg of the PiliPinas Debate 2016:

1. All five candidates will be present

According to ABS-CBN Integrated News and Current Affairs chief Regina Reyes, all five presidential candidates have confirmed their attendance in the debate.

Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago missed the Visayas leg of the debate, citing health reasons.

On Monday, Santiago said she will be attending the final debate.

"Oh yeah I will be there!" Santiago told reporters after delivering her speech during the commencement exercise at the Bulacan State University in Malolos, where she was invited to be the guest of honor and speaker.

Other candidates, Jejomar Binay, Rodrigo Duterte, Grace Poe, and Mar Roxas vowed to show up at the debate.

2. Townhall format

Reyes said the townhall format differentiates the final debate from the previous ones as this would allow regular people to ask the candidates their own questions.

"Ang kakaiba sa format ng ating PiliPinas debate ay townhall format ito. Ibig sabihin, ‘yung mga taong-bayan, ordinaryong tao na may concerns o issues na gusto nilang masagot ng susunod na magiging pangulo ng bansa ang mismong magtatanong sa mga kandidato," she said in an interview on DZMM.

3. Concerned citizens asking their questions

Prior to the debate, thousands of netizens submitted their questions to ABS-CBN and out of this number, seven people were selected to go to Dagupan City to personally ask the presidential candidates their questions.

4. Questions culled from citizens' submissions

The questions that will be asked during the debate came from citizens who sent in their questions through different platforms. From these submissions, the organizers screened and vetted the questions, before coming up with seven topics.

"Marami tayong nakuhang mga sagot. We screened and vetted around a thousand people who sent in their questions and concerns, at mula roon ay pinili natin ang mga pinakamataas ang level na mga isyu ng mga mamamayan. Ikinumpara din natin ‘yan sa survey ng Pulse Asia kung ano ang pinaka-nagbibigay ng pagkabahala o concern, o takot sa ating mga kababayan," Reyes explained.

5. Meaningful discussion of issues affecting Filipinos

Foreign policy, health, jobs, traffic, education and overseas Filipino workers are just among the issues that will be discussed in the final face-off. The topics are chosen based on the number of people who voiced out their concerns and questions on the specific issue.

Aside from answering the questions from the people, the candidates will also be given a chance to ask their fellow candidates.

"Magkakaroon po sila ng pagkakataong tanungin ang bawat isa. Ngayon, 'yung sagutan, nasa kanila na po ‘yun kung gusto nilang hamunin ang sagot ng bawat isa," Reyes said.

6. Last chance for candidates to explain their platforms

Sunday's debate will also be the presidential candidates' last chance to explain their stand on different issues, as well as to present their programs and platforms.

"Ito na rin ang huling paghaharap nila bago tayo bumoto. Ito na ang huli ninyong pagkakataon para maikumpara ang mga policy proposals, ang mga programa ng gobyerno nila, at ang mga diskarte nila sa iba’t ibang problema ng bayan. Ito na ‘yung ninyong pagkakataon para marinig ‘yan, para maikumpara at makita kung saan sila nag-iiba iba," Reyes said.

7. Available on all platforms

The debate will be available in all platforms. Filipinos abroad can watch the debate live on The Filipino Channel. It will also be available via livestream on news.abs-cbn.com, and on iWantTv.

The third and final PiliPinas Debates 2016 will be hosted by Karen Davila and Tony Velasquez.

The debate will start at 6 p.m. on ABS-CBN and it will be simulcast on ANC and DZMM.

There will also be a pre-debate show at 5 p.m. to be shown on ANC, at 3 p.m. on DZMM 639 khz and TeleRadyo, and at 5:45 on ABS-CBN. - with a report from Pia Gutierrez, ABS-CBN News