BOOK LAUNCH: Federalism and Cha-Cha for Peace
- Details
- IAG Philippines
IAG will launch during the closing ceremony of Global Autonomy, Governance and Federalism (GAGF) Forum on October 20 in Manila its latest publication, a compendium of papers on federalism and charter change for the Mindanao peace process.
The 172-page book features papers by legal scholar and long-time Mindanao peace observer Judge Soliman Santos Jr., IAG Executive Director Atty. Benedicto Bacani, Atty. Ishak Mastura of the Bangsamoro Study Group, and Australian National University emeritus fellow Prof. Ronald May.
The launch will coincide with IAG hosting the GAGF Forum, the first and most comprehensive global forum on autonomy, federalism and governance as a conflict resolution device to resolve conflicts and societal divides.
READ: IAG to highlight federalism in global forum
In his introduction to the book, Atty. Bacani pointed out the low awareness of leaders and citizens on federalism and its complexities owing to the country's long tradition of the unitary system of government. He also observed that “in the emerging debates, the motivation for going federal thus far is ambiguous and the details and the roadmap for achieving it remain unclear.”
“In this uncertain and uninformed environment, the potential is great that the agenda for Mindanao peace as a primary driver for federalism will be lost on policymakers and the national constituency in this march towards federalism. It is therefore imperative that the Bangsamoro and Mindanao agenda for peace must be positioned strategically in the national debate on federalism,” he added.
Atty. Bacani said IAG, through this publication and by holding the GAGF Forum, renews its commitment to be in the forefront in shaping the regional and national discourse on autonomy and federalism that will bring about a strong, peaceful and prosperous Mindanao and the Philippines.
Registration to the GAGF Forum is ongoing on the event website.
Email IAG at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or tweet @IAGorgph to reserve a free copy of the book. Limited copies are available.
