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 The AdNU Arrupe Convention Hall was packed with students, guests, and journalists for Citizens in the Public Square: A Forum on Democratization, a special event featuring Naga City's Mayoral Candidates, held last 26 January 2010 at 3:00 PM. Former City Mayor Sulipicio Roco of Aksyon Demokratiko and Atty. Adan Botor of the Nationalist People's Coalition were able to attend the forum.
Fr. Wilmer Tria, Chair of the Philosophy Department, formally opened the event by giving his Welcome Remarks, citing general observations regarding local politics. Elmer Abad II, a faculty of the Social Sciences Department, facilitated the flow.
The three panelists who provided representations to the various sectors/themes were Atty. Maria Rose Sergio, AdNU Presidential Assistant for Advocacy and Research, Dr. Emelina Regis, Director of the Institute for Environmental Conservation and Research (INECAR), and Fr. Jay Jacinto, Assistant Director of Naga Parochial School.
Four parts comprised the forum: The first segment gave the speakers ample time to discuss three themes: Oligarchy, Environment, and Peace/Security; The second segment gave the speakers a chance to ask his fellow candidate a question; The third segment gave the three (3) panelists a chance to ask questions to the speakers; and the last segment was an open forum, with questions coming from the audience (approved by a screening committee).
Critical issues were raised later in the forum, from the importance of the election in solving the problem of oligarchy to the environmental matters regarding the Naga City River. Other issues such as industry (on the effects of SM versus the local businesses), flooding (on how to solve the ever-continuous problem), youth action (on how to prevent them from getting involved in crimes), and civil programs (on how it could promote devotion to Ina) were also tackled.
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