Round Table Discussions on Structural Reform

Having in mind the need for poverty reduction and good governance, the Center for Research and Communication is hosting a series of Round-Table Discussions (RTD) on Structural Reform. The objectives of the RTD are (1) to create awareness of structural reform issues, and (2) to pursue action for reform.

The RTD will cover various initiatives, including Constitutional Reform (change the constitution), Law Reform (change statutory laws) and Regulatory Reform (change the implementing rules and regulations).

The specific subjects are:

1. Investment Liberalization.- job creation (through the establishment of new business enterprises); consumer price reduction (through the increase in supply of goods and services); and anti-corruption (through the entry of independent competitors vis-a-vis the cartels of government suppliers);

2. Regional Decentralization.- either by regional authorities under a unitary state, autonomous regions under a unitary state, or component states under a federal state; and

3. Parliamentarism.- either unicameral parliamentarism, or bicameral parliamentarism with a lower house stronger than the upper house.

For the first session on 01 July 2011, Friday from 8:00am-12:00nn, the focus is the most urgent: poverty reduction through investment liberalization.

In each RTD, there will be 15-minute presentations and 10-minute interventions, followed by discussion and open forum. The RTD will be closed door sessions.

The RTD is organized by the Initiating Committee of Ms. Carmen Pedrosa, Atty. Dindo Donato and Mr. Arnel Endrinal, in collaboration with the Center for Research and Communication.