Leni Robredo to first focus on LGU-related laws as congresswoman

Congresswoman-elect Leni Robredo said she plans to continue initiatives her late husband, the late Interior Sec. Jesse, started, especially with regard to legislation on local government units (LGUs). "Ako yung first order of the day ko kasi ay ilegislate sana yung mga initiatives ng asawa ko sa DILG, yung Seal of Good Housekeeping," Robredo said in an ambush interview with reporters Thursday at the launch of the "Jesse Robredo: Modern Day Filipino Hero" photo exhibit in Quezon City. "Ngayon kasi, ano lang siya, memorandum circulars and department orders. While it gives away incentives to better-performing LGUs, parang walang penalties doon sa LGUs na nag-u-underperform," she said. Robredo said the Seal of Good Housekeeping program should be institutionalized so that it will be implemented by future public officials. The Seal of Good Housekeeping, an initiative of Jesse's during his time as Interior Secretary, recognizes LGUs that have performed well in areas such as local legislation, resource allocation, and transparency. Jesse died on August 18, 2012 when the plane he was in with three others crashed off Masbate. He would have been 55 on May 27 this year. Robredo, meanwhile, was proclaimed congresswoman-elect of Camarines Sur's third district on May 15. She ran against Nationalist People's Coalition's Nelly Villafuerte, wife of incumbent Rep. Luis Villafuerte Sr., Jesse Robredo's uncle. Robredo said LGU-related legislation will be her initial projects, but said she also had a lot of reforms in mind. Some of the issues in her district she plans to handle are livelihood, agriculture, education, and health. For now, however, Robredo sees herself prioritizing laws involving LGUs first. "Kasi ang tingin ko yung LGUs talaga yung pinaka-instrumento para maging efficient yung delivery of services, na pag magexcel yung mga LGUs, yung makikinabang din yung mga tao," she said. "If LGUs are forced to perform, if LGUs are forced to excel, magiging very efficient yung delivery of basic services, and everything else will follow," Robredo continued. — BM, GMA News