Tacurongnons mourn the death of Robredo

By Aida C. Agad

Friday 24th of August 2012

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, Aug 24 (PIA) -- Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo was originally set to be the guest of honor of the 2012 Talakudong Festival on September 18.

The festive mood all over Tacurong City, while everybody prepares for the celebration, unexpectedly turned to grief and mourning as reports confirmed his death in the ill-fated Piper Seneca plane on August 21.

Saddened, Tacurong City residents regret they could have proudly shown the late secretary the city’s Seal of Good Housekeeping hanging in the premises of the city hall. The city was the first recipient of the seal in Region 12.

They could have thanked him for believing in the city’s potentials. They could have escorted him while visiting development projects in the city made possible by his support through the Local Government Support Fund.

All these sentiments go out as they feel remorse for the loss of a great servant leader and role model.

“In the eyes of Tacurongnons and of the whole nation, Sec. Robredo is one of a kind,” City Mayor Lina Montilla said

“His humility is admirable. He responds to text messages. Very open ang line of communication between him and the local leaders. I will never forget how accommodating and sincere he is to us mayors. I don’t know how he did it but he knows each mayor’s, each city’s concerns very well. He has that personal touch, that sensitivity to our needs,” Montilla added.

The mayor recalled how the late secretary responded when she aired the city’s need for more police personnel. From 52 policemen, Tacurong now has 82.

The late secretary was also the mayor’s role model.

“As a neophyte mayor, his insights on good governance helped me. He has helped us lay down our direction toward good governance,” she said.

Montilla added that they are determined to follow this direction, even with his death.

Meanwhile, the City Local Government Operations Officer Alberto P. Sero Jr. said Sec. Robredo uplifted their moral through his programs on good governance.

“Because of what he did, we gained confidence in the implementation of programs; he shows political will and sincerity. He restored people's trust on the government down to the village level," said Sero.

Local officials also said they can only recall the words of the late secretary as their inspiration duing the Region XII’s TAPATAN on Disaster Risk Reduction.

“Hindi sapat na tayo ay magaling lamang. Hindi sapat na tayo ay matino. Ang hinahanap po natin sa paglilingkod ay mahusay at matino. (It is not enough that we are just good. It is not enough that we are decent. What we are looking for in serving is being good and decent),” Robredo was quoted saying.

They also vowed to follow positive changes that Sec. Robredo facilitated in local governance as they continue to serve with transparency and integrity.

In honor and mourning for their supposed guest of honor, the city is now flying the Philippine flags in half-mast in all government installations and AFP posts. (aida c agad PIA12/with reports from Jezereel Louise C. Billano LGU Tacurong Information)