Gawad Jesse Robredo for outstanding mayors launched

In commemoration of the upcoming seventh death anniversary of Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, the foundation named after him on Thursday launched the Gawad Jesse M. Robredo award to honor mayors who are competent, virtuous, and exemplify excellence, integrity, and sincerity in public service.

Aika Robredo, his first-born daughter and the chairperson of the Jesse M. Robredo Foundation, said that awardees will be those who embody the "matino, mahusay, at may puso" brand of leadership shown by her late father, who served as mayor of Naga City for 18 years before being named DILG chief.

Aika Robredo, Chairman of the Jesse M. Robredo Foundation, Inc., launches Gawad Jesse M. Robredo Award to mark the seventh year of commemorating the death anniversary of late DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo @gmanews pic.twitter.com/6AuEZ9OzFt

— Llanesca T. Panti (@llanescajourno) August 15, 2019

During his stint as mayor, Robredo was named a Ramon Magsaysay Awardee for Government Service in 2001 for engineering economic prosperity in Naga City. He was appointed DILG Secretary in June 2010, and was killed in a plane crash in the waters off Masbate on August 18, 2012.

“When he passed away, we were thinking, paano ba natin bubuhayin ng alaala at legacy ni Jesse,” Robredo’s wife, Vice President Leni Robredo, said during the award’s launching on Wednesday.

“Itong Gawad Jesse M. Robredo, it is something that we have always wanted to do. Gusto nating ipakita sa kanila na iyong pulitika hindi naman masama in itself. Ang pulitika, puwede mong gamitin para sa kabutihan. At iyong example ni Jesse ang magsasabi sa atin na it can happen, it can be done,”  she added.

“‘Yung pagbibigay ng award, hindi naman sinasabi na siya [Jesse] ang pinakamahusay, na siya ang pinakamatino. We just want to introduce the brand of governance na ginawa ni Jesse. Hindi [kasi] siya sumusunod sa agos. For many years during his political career, nasa oposisyon si Jesse. Maraming mga bagay out of his reach, there were a lot of challenges. Kaya naging innovative ang kanyang leadership,” the Vide President said.

VP Robredo on giving Gawad Jesse M. Robredo award: Maraming mahuhusay, maraming matitino, pero gusto namin i-introduce ‘yung brand of governance ni Jesse, kasi hindi siya sumusunod sa agos @gmanews pic.twitter.com/DNQALjWxcB

— Llanesca T. Panti (@llanescajourno) August 15, 2019

All incumbent mayors in the Philippines who have completed at least one term are eligible to be nominated 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 units;
• 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; and
• engagement and empowerment of constituents.

“We want to discover many other young local officials who have been doing the same things or who have been doing even better; use them as an example to inspire many other politicians lalo na ngayon na mas maraming batang pumapasok,” Vice President Robredo said.

The recipients of the Gawad Jesse M. Robredo will be named in January 2020 and will receive a trophy and a non-monetary grant from a partner organization to support a community development program. — BM, GMA News