An inter-high school debate will be conducted for the first time by the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP), the SP board secretary announced Wednesday. 

Board secretary IV Remia Regalado said six schools will compete for the honor of being the winner of the “1st Sangguniang Panlungsod Debate Championship: An Inter-High School Debate Tournament.” 

Done in partnership with the UP Debate Circle of the University of the Philippines Visayas, the competition will be held at the sixth floor of the new Iloilo City Hall building Jan. 21 and 22. 

It aims to provide an avenue for young speakers develop and hone their talents in public speaking, as well as to introduce the art of parliamentary debate to future leaders of the country. 

Students will have to be wide readers and have to be abreast with current events to hurdle the debate, Regalado said. 

Twenty-one private high schools and three state universities here were invited but six confirmed their participation, namely: Ateneo de Iloilo-Sta. Maria Catholic School, Iloilo Chinese Commercial - Main, Iloilo Chinese Commercial – Ledesco campus, Colegio de las Hijas de Jesus, West Visayas State University, and Sun Yat Sen High School. 

The debate will follow the Asian Parliamentary Format in which there are two teams - government and opposition with three members each. 

The topic will be announced on the day of the tournament.*Lucy Montealto-Sinay/ICPIO