In a heated exchange of ideas on urban governance and local autonomy, Naga College Foundation, Inc. (NCF) and Bicol State College of Applied Sciences and Technology (BISCAST) faced off during the second installment of ‘Paghuron: Advocacy Public Debate Series’ on August 28, 2026, at Tanghalang Melchor, NCF Main Campus.
Co-organized by NCF, through its Center for Research, Learning, and Development (CRLD), in collaboration with Metro Naga Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI) and the Naga City People’s Council (NCPC), the debate convened a diverse assembly of stakeholders, including representatives from academic institutions, government agencies, and sectoral organizations to deliberate on Naga City’s potential transition into a Highly Urbanized City (HUC).
The debate centered on conflicting arguments surrounding autonomy, economic growth trajectories, administrative independence, and the preservation of historical provincial ties.
Throughout the session, debaters from NCF and BISCAST engaged in rigorous rebuttals and pointed cross-examinations, challenging each team’s stance on fiscal sustainability, local governance mechanisms, and long-term socio-economic implications.
Mr. Efren Daniel De Leon, NCPC Internal Vice President, emphasized that the debate serves as an educational tool for civic empowerment rather than a final verdict.
“It will be the Nagueños who will decide whether Naga should become a Highly Urbanized City or not,” Mr. De Leon noted during his address.
Lending institutional weight and multi-sectoral leadership to the event were key dignitaries, including Hon. Cecilia Veluz-De Asis, former Naga City Vice Mayor; Atty. Carlo C. Villanueva, Jr., NCF Board Chairperson and MNCCI Executive Vice President; Dr. Charlie P. Nacario, BISCAST President; Dr. Emelita O. Menes, MNCCI President; Dr. Nora Elizabeth F. Maniquiz, NCF Vice President for Academic Affairs; Dr. Monsito G. Ilarde, Dean of the NCF College of Engineering (COE); and Dr. Agapito C. Rubio, CRLD Director.
This second edition of ‘Paghuron’ fortifies NCF’s commitment to fostering an open, research-driven platform that empowers the local community through critical engagement, evidence-based discourse, and participatory governance.