Sec. Robredo, a great loss to good governance -- officials

By Danilo E. Doguiles

Wednesday 22nd of August 2012

KORONADAL CITY, Aug 22 (PIA) -- Officials in Soccsksargen Region and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao are united in saying that the untimely death of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo is a great loss to the Aquino administration and the government�€™s mandate to promote good governance.

In behalf of the provincial government of South Cotabato, Gov. Arthur Y. Pingoy Jr. extended his sympathies to the bereaved family of Sec. Robredo whom he described as a good government official, a loving father to his family and a model public servant.

Pingoy lauded the late secretary for the respect he gives to the decisions of the local government.

�€œDespite some differences in our opinions, particularly on the issue of the environment code, Sec. Robredo respected our decision (to stick with the provision on banning open pit mining),�€� he said.

�€œBut what I admire most about the secretary is his program on incentivizing local governance through the Seal of Housekeeping and the Gawad Pamana ng Lahi that encouraged active participation of local government units,�€� he added.

I hope the next DILG secretary will be as dedicated as Secretary Robredo, Pingoy said.

At the turnover of the P50,000 financial incentives to barangays adjudged as best 100 in the province�€™s Dungog sa Barangay Award this morning, participants offered a minute of silence for the late secretary.

South Cotabato�€™s Dungog sa Barangay Award was patterned after DILG�€™s Seal of Housekeeping.

A mass in honor of Robredo will also be held at the covered court inside the provincial capitol at 4 p.m. Friday, the governor announced.

Meanwhile, in an interview over the radio to South Cotabato 2nd District Representative Daisy Avance-Fuentes, she described Robredo as a development-oriented person with a unique, effective way of managing local government.

�€œHe wants the LGUs to be effective, not to be dependent on their IRA (internal revenue allotment). He wants LGUs to set up plans,�€� Fuentes said.

�€œUnder his leadership, the DILG has started a scheme of evaluating local government units that has encouraged LGUs to be effective in local governance. His death will definitely have major effects on the administration of President Aquino, Fuentes said.

North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza called Robredo �€œa champion of good governance and transparency.�€�

�€œHe is a model in public service and transparency, fiscal management and in the implementation of government project,�€� she said.

On the other hand, Cotabato 2nd District Rep. Nancy Catamco said, Robredo have favored the indigenous people by pushing for the mandatory representation of IPs in LGUs.

Robredo last visited North Cotabato on August 13 to meet with local officials.

In ARMM, Acting Gov. Mujiv Hataman said, Robredo has been instrumental in pushing for reforms in the autonomous region.

Mindanaoans will never forget the secretary for the attention he gave to the island and its people and for supporting the Mindanao peace process.

Hataman said, Robredo was supposed to meet with him and the five governors of the region on August 23 to discuss matters regarding the fast tracking of the implementation of the projects under the P200-million stimulus funds, especially regarding the power sector.

�€œWe lost a partner in promoting good governance in the ARMM and the entire country,�€� he said.

Meanwhile, Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu said he lost a mentor and adviser in good governance.

He described Robredo as one of the foundations of the �€œTuwid na Daan�€� of the Aquino Administration whose sole objective is to fight corruption.

He called on other officials of Maguindanao to pray for the repose of the secretary.

In connection, flags of all government offices and schools in Soccksargen Region and ARMM have been put into half mast. (DEDoguiles-PIA 12)