The morning session at the Pakighinabi Room tackled more the role of the academe in the discourse of federalism in the Philippines. Photo by Dave Daryanani
By Karlo Alexie C. Puerto
The Ateneo de Davao Center for Politics and International Affairs (CPIA), in partnership with the University Community Engagement and Advocacy Council (UCEAC) hosted a two-part roundtable discussion on federalism last September 27.
The first part of the conference, held at the Pakighinabi Room of the Community Center of the First Companions, tackled about the effects of federalism in academic institutions and their contribution to the current discourse of federalism in the country.
“CPIA intended to collect ideas and positions for our policy makers to consider. If this alternative silences the gun, then we will embrace this like [a] long-lost brother or companion,” CPIA Director Neil Pancho said in his opening statement.
The second part, held at the Finster Auditorium, talked about what type of federalism that would be appropriate for Mindanao and also the rest of the country.
“There is a presupposition that the current system has problems and we have to identify how federalism will solve these problems,” assistant professor at the University of the Philippines Diliman Jan Robert Go said.
Both sessions were participated by members of the academe and civil society groups, including representatives from the Centrist Democracy Political Institute, Lihok Pideral (Federal Movement) in Mindanao, Lumad Mindanao, National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Please see video recordings of both sessions below.