WB on Robredo: Public should demand good governance

MANILA, Philippines - A World Bank official paid tribute yesterday to the late Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo for his reform agenda that focused on service to the people.

Chiyo Kanda, World Bank Philippines acting country director, said Robredo advocated not only straight and open governance but smart governance as well. 

“Many people are asking, how will all the reforms you initiated be sustained? Perhaps, we can get the answer from you when at one point you said that the people should be protecting and demanding good governance.”

Kanda was among those who paid homage to Robredo in a tribute called “Legacy of Good Governance,” participated in by government officials and representatives from various sectors.

She said Robredo’s leadership marked an important shift to government reforms and initiated full disclosure policy, good housekeeping, and performance challenge.

“We have been inspired by your commitment to excellence and refusal to accept mediocrity,” she said.

“This may be the reason why you have always fought for an engaged citizenry because they would be the ones to sustain and demand for good governance.

“As co-chair of the Philippines Development Forum, the World Bank stands committed to continue our support for strengthening transparent and accountable local governments and genuine citizen participation in local governance,” she said.

“We trust that the new leadership of the department will sustain and scale up the reforms for effective local governance that you initiated. But the real driving force to continue the reforms – as you always reminded us – can only come from the ordinary citizens who don’t succumb to the status quo,” Kanda added.

“But your greatest legacy, perhaps, even from the time you were mayor of Naga City, was your unwavering belief in the genuine participation of the people. And you created the space and mechanisms for civil society to be meaningfully involved in local governments,” she said.

Quoting Robredo in a speech delivered just two days before the tragic accident during the launch of a knowledge partnership in monitoring local public services, Kanda said “good local governance can be the conclusion of our unfinished revolution.”

“This revolution can also be anchored on people like you who serve rather than criticize, collaborate rather than divide, build up rather than tear down. People who engage to understand,” she further quoted Robredo, adding, “these are indeed the words of wisdom which will guide us henceforth in completing the reforms that you started.”

In a speech Robredo gave during the 20th Anniversary of the Local Government Code last year, Kanda said the DILG chief said: “What brings us together is far more powerful than what pulls us apart. What brings us together is the welfare of our people, the greatness of this nation, the best legacy that we can provide to our children’s children is the knowledge that we walked the ‘straight path’ and turned this nation into a great one.”

“Your legacy will continue – so long as the people of the Philippines remember you. Your dream will live on – so long as we all embrace your spirit in our hearts,” Kanda said.

A simple and honest man with a lot of big ideas to reform the country, particularly local governments, Robredo was remembered in an emotion-filled tribute yesterday.

Those who spoke said his legacy must be honored by not succumbing to the status quo.

They quoted the man himself: “We must make heroes out of ordinary people, we must make heroes out of ourselves.”

No celebrity

The memorial services were part of the state funeral for Robredo, who in his lifetime did not achieve celebrity status, except perhaps in Naga where he served as mayor for a 18 years.

Urban groups whose members openly wept recalled how the late secretary opened the doors for the poor like them, dismissing “protocol” observed by most people in authority.

Two representatives from the informal settlers – Roselia Tormiento, president of the Caloocan City Alliance of Urban Poor and Filomena Cinco, barangay chairman of the Estero de San Miguel – both attested to the simplicity, accessibility and sincerity of Robredo in dealing with them when others normally ignored their concerns.

Tormiento said it could be difficult to deal with some of them who were insistent and could be narrow-minded, but Robredo faced them all the time, talking to them with respect and impartiality.

She said she rarely admired government officials because they were treated like “trash” by some but given importance by Robredo. “Cinco said Robredo taught them self-respect when people had been considering informal settlers as an eyesore and a problem in the various cities and municipalities.

“Goodbye, our beloved secretary,” Tormiento said.

She said Robredo even named a group of girls Estero de San Miguel Angels, who sang songs “Hero” and “Farewell To You My Friends” for him, as they were the ones who requested that their electricity in the area be restored after a fire.

DILG Undersecretary Austere Panadero reiterated the famous quote of Robredo, which was mentioned a few times during the memorial services: “Hindi lahat ng matino ay mahusay, at lalong hindi lahat ng mahusay ay matino (Not all smart people are good, and not all good people are smart).”

“As an icon of good local governance in our country, his ideas already influenced some of our programs way before he became our secretary,” Panadero said, adding he was “a man who never runs out of innovative and excellent ideas to implement the programs of the government.”