‘Robredo Awards for Good Governance’ proposed

The Late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo. AP FILE PHOTO

“If there’s an Oscar for great films or a Grammy for best song then why not a ‘Jesse’ for good governance?”

Deputy Speaker Erin Tañada asked this in proposing a  “Robredo Awards for Good Governance” to honor Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, who died in a plane crash on Saturday.

Tañada’s proposed “Jesse” awards seek to recognize “outstanding workers and programs in all aspects of local government service, from budget matters to peace and order.”

“The categories will include both line of work and field of operations. That way we can have a Best Tanod as an individual award and, say, a Best Financially Managed Town in the organization category,” he said.

Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo also wants to name after the late secretary the 30-story building being constructed in Quezon City to house the  Department of the Interior and Local Government and the National Police Commission.

Castelo filed House Bill No. 6483 describing Robredo as an “icon, advocate and champion of good governance in the country.”

In the explanatory note, he said the Robredo building would serve as a reminder that  “there was once a public official, who had raised the quality of public service several notches higher than anyone across time.”

In a statement, Castelo said his bill would require “the national government to maintain and preserve the building as part of maintaining Robredo’s legacy as a public official.”

He said the building rising on Quezon Avenue was expected to be completed early next year.