Honor Robredo’s legacy, Cebu City officials told

Cebu City Councilor Alvin Dizon called on fellow city officials to honor the late secretary Jesse Robredo’s legacy of transparent, accountable and responsive local governance.

In a privilege speech in yesterday’s City Council session, Dizon suggested that officials do this by observing the Full Disclosure Policy (FDP) started by Robredo at the Department of Interior and Locan Government.

Robredo’s widow, Camarines Sur Rep. Leni G. Robredo will be in Cebu today to grace events commemorating his legacy as a government official.

The Jesse Robredo Modern Day Filipino Hero exhibit will open at the third floor of SM City Cebu at 10:30 a.m. today.

The FDP requires local government units (LGU) to disclose 12 key financial documents that show how public funds are spent.

If these are not met, an LGU would not be awarded the Seal of Good Housekeeping by the DIL which conducts the survey every year.

The DILG provides financial incentives to LGUs awarded.

Dizon also took the occasion to call on the Cebu City government to uphold the right to shelter of the city’s informal settlers.

Dizon said any demolition should be done in accordance with the law, which include provision of safe, equally accessible and affordable housing.

Dizon is asking primary, secondary and tertiary public schools within Cebu City to observe the month of August as Jesse Robredo’s Month through activities that honor Robredo’s life and works.

He said Robredo is an inspiration of good public governance, having transformed Naga City in Luzon from being a third class city to a first class city where people enjoyed the fruits of the city’s progress.

“What Secretary Jesse had done in Naga City remains a blueprint of best practices in local democracy and participatory governance,” Dizon said.

In Cebu City, Dizon said Robredo became an instrument in facilitating the negotiation with the Capitol on the 93-1 lots owned by the provincial government which have become urban poor communities.

Robredo died in a plane crash in Masbate enroute to Naga City from Cebu City on August 18.

Robredo’s aide Senior Supt. June Paolo Abrazado survived the accident.

The Cebuano pilot and owner of the Piper Seneca aircraft Jessup Bahinting and Nepalese co-pilot Kshitiz Chand also died in the plane crash.

Groups like the Kaya Natin Movement, Ateneo School of Governance and Galing Pook have declared August the Jesse Robredo Month.