The half-day activity is one of the key components of the “Community-based Dialogues” project. The main speaker was Atty. Cedric Jaranilla, Legal Officer of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Region VI who shared the nuances of decentralization, local autonomy and federalism specifically the difference between decentralization and federalism. He noted the different types of federalism and how it enhances democracy and promotes good governance. Atty. Jaranilla also gave a brief presentation on “Federalism 101,” an information material prepared by the DILG for the purpose of awareness-building.
After the presentation, the participants were given the opportunity to share their personal opinions and insights on the planned shift to a federal form of government. It was an interesting and enlightening exchange of perspectives.