The 4th Round Table Discussion on Structural Reform

This post was recovered from an article originally posted on 2012-09-25 09:49:29

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The Center for Research and Communication conducted the 4th Round Table Discussion on Structural Reform on September 10, 2012 in the Telengtan Hall of the University of Asia and the Pacific. The Round Table Discussion tackled the theme “Forms of Regional Decentralization”, with the objectives of creating awareness of structural reform issues and pursuing reform initiatives.

Among the invited guests were Mr. Tony Lopez of BizNews Asia, Atty. Maria Cristina Anillo-Jacinto of the Congressional Committee on Constitutional Amendments, Mr. Manuel Gotis of the DILG, Mr. Cliff Davies of Dohle Ship Management, Mr. Henry Schumacher of the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, and Ambassador Delia Albert of SGV & Company. Student observers were from Ateneo Law School and UA&P Institute of Political Economy.

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The main speakers were Dr. Jose Abueva, President of Kalayaan College, who presented the case for shifting to a parliamentary and federal system of government, and Atty. Demosthenes Donato of the Initiating Committee on Structural Reform, who recommended the creation of a “Regional Government Authority” under the Office of the President to more effectively deliver socioeconomic services from the existing Executive Departments to underdeveloped regions.

This series of Round Table Discussions (RTDs) began in 2011 with the efforts of the Initiating Committee on Structural Reform, comprising Atty. Donato, Ms. Carmen Pedrosa and Mr. Arnel Endrinal. The first RTD on July 1, 2011 focused on law and regulatory reforms, followed by the second RTD on October 12, 2011 discussing Constitutional economic provisions and the third RTD on March 7, 2012 dealing with the reform of political institutions.

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The sponsors of the RTD were Dohle Ship Management Phils. Corp., Easy Bio Philippines, Inc., ECI Telecom Philippines, Inc., and Permasteelisa Philippines, Inc.