The University Social Involvement Council through the Center for Local Governance in coordination with the Department of Social Sciences and AdNU-Supreme Student Government conducted an activity entitled: “Medyo Ba`boy: Wala Bang Bawas Dyan? A Lecture Discussion on Issues after PDAF” on February 27, 2014 at the Instructional Media Center, Phelan Hall, Ateneo de Naga University. This activity is part of the Alternative Class Program initiated by the AdNU-SSG every semester to provide alternative learning sessions for the students to participate aside from the usual classroom setting.
For the Opening Remarks, Mr. Rolan Jon G. Bulao, Chairperson of the Social Sciences Department, gave some questions on what will happen to the Philippines without PDAF.
The topic was made clear through Ms. Joy Aceron, resource speaker coming from the Government Watch Project of the Ateneo School of Government (ASOG) in Ateneo de Manila University. She provided the necessary inputs for the students to understand where and how PDAF became the source of corruption. She even used the Napoles Scam issue to illustrate clearly how Ms.Napoles and her fake NGO played around the existing government system to steal from the government with the participation of some senators, congressmen, and other individuals. At the end of her discussion, she pointed out that the community should be vigilant with the “reformed pork” since according to her, the Supreme Court ruling is not an assurance that the government money will be used efficiently. She challenged the participants to involve the legislators in this move. During the open forum, few questions were raised by the participants and considered by the resource person challenging.
Dr. Malu C. Barcillano, Director of Center for Local Governance, gave the closing message. After her remarks, a music video presentation entitled “ Kaya Natin” was shown as an inspiration to the participants to think and take the challenge.
With this semester`s theme: “On the Way to Invictus and beyond”, this activity aims to challenge the students to act and participate in the efforts of bringing back the trust to the government and this could only be achieved if they are well informed and understand the issue. This activity was attended by more than a hundred students coming from different colleges of the Ateneo de Naga University.
by Jay P. Abawag
