Today I’d like to yield this space to Fr. Carmelo O. Diola, Executive Director of the Dilaab Foundation, Inc. I have written a series of articles on the late Secretary Jesse Robredo and Fr. Melo’s reflections, “The Laser Man” nicely caps this corner’s tribute for the icon of good governance.
Dilaab is a “volunteer-driven, Church-based movement for a transformed Filipino nation through heroic Christian citizenship. Its basic message is little acts of good citizenship, like obeying traffic rules and segregating garbage, can be acts of loving God and neighbor [that] empower ordinary people for change.”
The two first met in Manila during a 2005 gathering of nongovernment organizations and ever since, the Cebuano priest kept tabs of the Naga City mayor.
In 2007, Dilaab developed a primer for its emerging good-governance advocacy, woven into a test called Laser for lifestyle, action, supporters, election conduct and reputation. Fr. Melo sent then Mayor Robredo some questions and here are his unedited answers.
“How did or will you try to remain a person of integrity once you were or are elected into office?”
Robredo: “Avoid spending personal money in helping your constituency (unless you are Ambassador Danding, Jaime Zobel, etc.) Legitimate constuency needs (medical, emergency transportation, burial, etc.) should be paid for by the government. There is what we call the AICS (Assistance to Indigents in Crisis Situaions) Program authorized by Department of Social Welfare and Development that can address these. Never spend what you cannot earn legally. This unburdens you the pressure to get the funds from some other sources.
“Avoid bad company. Limit you social life. Live a frugal life. Request relatives and family members to stay away from all transactions with your local government. This might entail some sacrifices because they might have been dealing with the local government before you got elected. Leaders should not only be honest but should be perceived to be honest as well.”
As Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) head after the 2010 elections, he rallied local government officials, the police and other public safety agencies to support the good governance programs he initiated.
Fr. Melo acknowledged the “daunting task by any standard, but Robredo applied himself resolutely to his new role,” the tension caused by skeptics notwithstanding.
In January 2011, Secretary Robredo wrote the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines to “consider partnering with the DILG on grassroots good governance”. It didn’t take long for Robredo to secure the backing of members of the CBCP. Bishop Antonio Tobias of Novaliches responded positively and was soon joined by two other bishops, Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez of Caloocan and Honesto Ongtioco of Cubao.
Thus was born the Ugnayan ng mga Barangay at Simbahan (Ubas), a concrete program that fleshed out President Benigno Aquino III’s public private partnership (PPP) with a sector that P-Noy does not easily warm up to.
Fr. Melo described the covenant signing on April 2011 “a watershed event symbolizing a new approach to promoting the common good.”
The high point for Fr. Melo’s own good governance campaign came on Feb. 2, 2012 during a seminar for elected officials, priests and lay leaders of Malolos, Bulacan. In that forum, Robredo talked about the “Seal of Good Housekeeping,” a DILG program that recognizes and rewards local government executives who, based on specific indicators, pass muster as proponents of good governance. Fr. Melo, who was also asked to speak, dovetailed Jesse’s inputs by zeroing in on ethics and zeal and for good governance.
A month later, they met again in Manila in another assembly attended by delegates from dioceses all over the country.
Robredo’s take on raising taxes: “Kapag nagtitiwala ang tao sa katuturan ng kanilang kontribusyon, ayos lang kahit pa makadagdag gastos ito.”
The Manila conference was followed by another gathering for government employees held in Cebu on July 20 under the auspices of Archbishop Jose Palma.
Robredo’s quotable quotes: “Walang madumi na politika. Ang madumi ay ang politico,” and “May korap kasi hinahayaan natin.” He was to initial a similar covenant between the Diocese of Kidapawan and the provincial government in a month or so, but the Aug. 18 incident “dashed these dreams and the expanding network to pieces.”
Or did it?
To Fr. Melo’s rhetorical question I offer a conjecture.
Certainly not, because Secretary Jesse as embodiment of model citizen has virtually ignited the Filipinos’ resolve to do good, if not better. That Dilaab worked in parallel with Sec. Jesse can only mean that the NGO will intensify its good citizenship advocacy, possibly in helping expand Church-State partnership through Ubas.
My own take: Secretary Jesse’s lifelong work is defined by his laser-like focus in whatever task given him. Certainly he also had his share of trials and difficulties, but that did not deter him from accomplishing whatever needed to be done.