Civil Society Coalition launches ‘Paghuron’ public debate to gauge pulse on Naga City’s HUC Status

NAGA CITY --- A powerful coalition of local civil society groups is stepping up to lead the public conversation on Naga City’s political and economic future. The Naga City People’s Council (NCPC), the Metro Naga Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI), and the Center for Research, Learning, and Development of the Naga College Foundation, Inc. (CRLD-NCF) will launch “Paghuron” on August 14, 2026, at 1:00 PM.

The highly anticipated public debate will take place at the Tanghalan Melchor Auditorium of the Naga College Foundation (NCF).

A Sequel for Community-Led Discourse

“Paghuron” serves as the next installment in a sequel of community-led discussion forums designed to tackle pressing issues in the locality. Following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s recent proclamation of Naga City as a Highly Urbanized City (HUC), this installment aims to create a wider and deeper understanding of the various opportunities, benefits, and administrative challenges confronting the city’s proposed transition from a component city into a highly urbanized status.

The Clash of Intellectual Heavyweights

To provide structural rigor, the organizers have invited the two leading Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Naga to a face-off. The Ateneo de Naga University (AdNU) Debating Society and the Greyhound Debating Club of the University of Nueva Caceres (UNC) will go head-to-head. Adapting the internationally recognized British Parliamentary debate format, the student debaters will dissect the multi-layered pros and cons of HUC conversion.

Gathering the “Social Pulse” of 27 Barangays

Unlike standard academic tournaments, “Paghuron” is strategically designed to elicit a deeper discussion of current realities, cultivate well-informed opinions, and capture the true social pulse of the city before citizens head to a decisive plebiscite.

To achieve this, the forum has organized a highly targeted and participatory audience:

• Barangay Delegates: At least 10 attending representatives from each of Naga City’s 27 barangays, bringing grassroots community voices directly to the auditorium.

  
  

• Youth Representatives: Selected student-delegates from all participating Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across the city to represent the voice of the youth.

Running as the lead secretariat for this public forum is the Naga City People’s Council, spearheaded by the dedicated efforts of Mr. Dennis Gonzaga, the Chairman of the Civil Society Advocacy Committee. The technical management and adjudication of the parliamentary format are being handled in close coordination with the Remontados Debating Society.

Prioritizing Citizen Enlightenment Over Competitive Victory

The core philosophy of the forum centers entirely on democratic education rather than points on a scorecard. Highlighting the long-term community value of the event, Mr. Dennis Gonzaga emphasized that public clarity overrides academic victory.

“Although the Debate does not recognize who eventually will be the winner in the end, the objective of the debate is already achieved,” stated Mr. Gonzaga. “Nagueños will have already formed a well-informed judgment on the future stake of Naga’s conversion into a new HUC.”

Worldwide Broadcast and Livestreaming

Recognizing the massive public interest across the Bicol region and the global Nagueño community, the entire proceedings will be broadcast live. The event will feature full television coverage by GNN Network 48 Television and will simultaneously be livestreamed via Facebook for viewers who cannot be physically present at the auditorium.

By bringing this heavy-hitting policy discussion to a public stage, the coalition aims to deliver high-quality, objective information, ensuring that every Nagueño can make an empowered, data-driven decision regarding the city’s future political landscape.