The inaugural lecture was delivered by then University of the Philippines (UP) Vice President for Public Affairs and Professor of Public Administration, Dr. J. Prospero E. De Vera III (now the Chair of the Commission on Higher Education).
The lecture was deemed relevant and timely as it provided the participants with the knowledge and information on the various opportunities as well as challenges of shifting from a unitary state to a federal form of government, most especially within the context of Pangasinan political, economic, and social landscapes.
Held on July 30, 2016 at the Sison Auditorium, the inaugural lecture was attended by 600 participants from local government units (LGUs), higher education institutions (HEIs), and other national and local stakeholders.
