The Dr. Jovito R. Salonga Center for Law and Development conducted a workshop on “The Forms of Government” last April 19 at the Siquijor Provincial Science High School (SPSHS), Caipilan in the Municipality of Siquijor.
The activity was organized by the Greater America Siquijorian Association (GASA) together with the SPSHS in its 5th Youth Leadership Seminar last April 16-21 with a mission of developing a pool of responsible citizens and responsive leaders. It was participated by 25 high school students from public and private schools in the Province of Siquijor.
According to Mr. Verna Mamicpic-Alih, co-coordinator of the said leadership seminar, “it is important that the participating students be made aware of the various forms of government with the possibility of a charter change and a possible change to parliamentary form of government in our country”.
“A comparison of the forms of government would best help these students understand the strengths and weaknesses of each. It is our hope that they will be able to help their parents and other voters understand and make the right decision should a plebiscite take place,” she added.
Salonga Law Center volunteers Christy Ann Marie Cong and Ace Victor Risma explained the composition, election process, advantages and disadvantages, and other essential features of the presidential versus parliamentary and the unitary versus federalism forms of government, respectively.
When asked to comment on the workshop, Ele King of SPHS said, “Understanding the various forms of government is such a good start for us students to be involved in nation-building.”
“But the best thing I have learned from the workshop is the fact that our country does not need to change our present form of government just to improve our struggling economy. The problem lies in the people running our government and also the people to whom our government is serving,” he added.
