spot_img
28.1 C
Philippines
Friday, March 29, 2024

Jesse Robredo foundation launches awards for mayors

- Advertisement -

Vice President Leni Robredo on Thursday led the launch of the Gawad Jesse M. Robredo award for local chief executives who embody the late Naga City mayor’s style of leadership.

The award recognizes local chief executives who exemplify excellence, integrity, and sincerity in public service and would be given to three to five mayors yearly, said the Vice President, Robredo’s widow.

Her family started the foundation named after the late Interior secretary, who died in a plane crash off Masbate in 2012.

“We want to show that politics in itself is not bad. Politics can be used for good, and Jesse's example showed it can happen. It can be done,” the Vice President said.

“We hope that we all live out what it means to be ‘matino, mahusay at may puso’ (sensible, excellent and have a heart),” added the Vice President's eldest daughter Aika, who chairs the Jesse M. Robredo Foundation.

- Advertisement -

Sunday, Aug. 18, will mark seven years since the plane crash that killed Robredo, the mayor who was known for wearing slippers, which his supporters interpreted as a sign of humility and accessibility to the people.

In a statement, the foundation said all incumbent mayors in the country who have completed at least one term will be qualified for the award. Nominees will be assessed based on their demonstration of the following criteria:

• Presence of effective measures and/or policies for transparency and accountability in the local government unit 

• Track record of integrity and ethical public service 

• Ability to deliver clear outcomes and impact in programs, projects, and activities

• Ability to overcome adversity in performing his/her functions as local chief executive

•  Innovation in governance

•  Collaboration with different stakeholders of society

• Engagement and empowerment of constituents

The recipients of the Gawad Jesse M. Robredo will be named in January 2020. They will receive a trophy and a non-monetary grant from a partner organization to support a community development program in their respective local government units.

The award was launched in collaboration with Galing Pook Foundation, the De la Salle University, and Kaya Natin Movement.

The foundation said the award aims to recognize mayors in the Philippines who embody a "matino, mahusay, at may puso" brand of leadership—qualities that “Sec. Jesse” himself had shown through the years, as mayor of Naga City and as Interior secretary under the Aquino administration.

Leading the launch of the award and other activities, Vice President Leni Robredo underscored the importance of recognizing mayors for promoting a culture of people empowerment, accountability, and transparency in government through their leadership.

“Now, we want to discover many other young local officials who have been doing the same things or who have been doing even better; second, we want to recognize them; third, to use them as an example to inspire many other politicians now that many younger politicians are entering the field,” she added.

The award gives importance to best practices, values, and good governance programs around the country. It also aims to create partnerships with different organizations and institutions to further improve the community development programs the winning local chief executives crafted to uplift the lives of their constituents.

- Advertisement -

LATEST NEWS

Popular Articles