THE Commission on Higher Education (Ched) recently hosted a regional federalism forum at the Pampanga State Agricultural University (PSAU) in Magalang town.

Attended by some 600 students and faculty members of state and private universities and colleges in Central Luzon, the forum provided adequate knowledge to higher education stakeholders on the proposed constitutional reform.

“The education sector is vital in bringing up Federalism because it can reach out many sectors in the community,” Ched commissioner Ronald Adamat said.

Fr. Ranhilio Aquino, Consultative Committee to Review the 1987 Constitution commissioner, explained the differences between the present unitary system and the proposed federal form.

“Federal system is the distribution of power and resources from the central government down to its regional states or government, whereas the Unitary system concentrates its resources to the national government, and just a piece of budget is given to local government units,” he said.

“The proposed Federated Regions can create their own destiny because of greater attention to regional means by creating new economic and excellence centers because of proper utilization of their resources, products and funds,” Aquino added.

The forum was conducted in partnership with PSAU and the Philippine Information Agency.