Naga City Mayor John G. Bongat’s Statement on the Passing Away of Secretary Jesse M. Robredo

We, the people of Naga City, mourn the passing away of our most admired public servant. We missed him once when he was called to serve the national government, and once again we will miss him because he did his best in the name of our nation’s interest, regardless of the dangers ahead.

Secretary Robredo is a man of the people, always doing what is best for the people. As the former mayor of our city, he has taught us, the citizens, to embrace the concept of “growth with equity” which became the core of his administration’s philosophy. He promoted economic development by sustaining pro-poor projects to ultimately build prosperity for the community at large. He believed that growth and prosperity must be tempered by an enlightened bias for the poor whose upliftment is an end to good governance.

As a dynamic servant leader, then Mayor Robredo’s leadership was cited by no less than former President Corazon C. Aquino for the “strong belief (that) he has instilled among the Nagueños that governance is a shared responsibility of public officials and the citizenry, with government providing the people the tools for their meaningful participation and active engagement.”  This is one admirable legacy that I vowed to nurture when he chose me to be his successor.

The man who engineered Naga City as a happy place, or Maogmang Lugar, is now in God’s eternal grace. We, the people, whose lives he touched will sorely miss him, but definitely his spirit will remain forever in the heart of every Nagueño.

So long Mayor Jesse; farewell to you Secretary Robredo.

JOHN G. BONGAT
City Mayor