Written by: Pearly Eunice A. Olita | Photos by: Jandawyne Francis M. Caluya & Johnrey P. Cobar

Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur — In the spirit of participatory governance and economic awareness, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region IX, through its Local Governance Regional Resource Center (LGRRC IX), in collaboration with the Pagadian-ZDS Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation Inc. (PZCCIFI) and key partner organizations, successfully held the 2025 ECONBIZ FORUM – Election 2025: Candidate’s Forum, a voter’s education special episode of the Layag Discussion Series.

Held on May 4, 2025, at The Atrium, Robinsons Pagadian, and streamed live via Facebook, the forum brought together candidates, civil society, business leaders, and the general public in a vibrant, non-partisan exchange of ideas centered on economic governance and sustainable development in Zamboanga del Sur.

The forum served as a neutral platform where candidates for local elective positions shared their economic development agenda and governance priorities in view of the upcoming 2025 elections. The discussion spotlighted key themes such as innovation, sustainability, and inclusivity, with particular attention to local economic issues raised by concerned citizens and stakeholders.

Among the featured speakers were:

  • Junaflor S. Cerilles (Candidate for Governor)
  • Eduardo D. Relacion (Candidate for Representative, District 1)
  • Aurora E. Cerilles (Candidate for Representative, District 2)
  • Samuel S. Co (Candidate for Mayor, Pagadian City)

The panel discussion was ably moderated by Dr. Mario S. Rodriguez of Ateneo de Zamboanga University, ensuring a thoughtful and well-balanced discourse. The program opened with a welcome message from Hazel J. Lu, President of PZCCIFI, who emphasized the business sector’s role in shaping governance through informed citizen engagement.

In his keynote remarks, DILG Assistant Regional Director Carmelo Enrique B. Libot, CESO V underscored the role of forums like EconBiz in fostering transparency, accountability, and multisectoral collaboration to build resilient and inclusive communities.

The event also saw the presence of candidates from Team Asenso and 1 Zambosurian, further enriching the spectrum of perspectives shared during the forum.

Co-organized with support from JCI Yllana, the UP Alumni Foundation Inc. Pagadian-ZDS, and various public and private sector groups, the 2025 EconBiz Forum stood as a compelling example of how community dialogue can elevate the quality of political engagement — anchoring it on sound economic vision and good governance principles.

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