When Mayor Robredo took over the city, it When Mayor Robredo took over the city, it was in bad shape. Naga City’s revenues was in bad shape. Naga City’s revenues were so low that it had been downgraded were so low that it had been downgraded officially from a first-class to a third-class officially from a first-class to a third-class city.city.

Mayor Robredo introduced change at city Mayor Robredo introduced change at city hall by first striking out patronage along its hall by first striking out patronage along its corridors. corridors. • He introduced a merit-based He introduced a merit-based system of hiring and system of hiring and promotion promotion based on aptitude and based on aptitude and competence.competence.• He moved against local vice-He moved against local vice-lords lords and drove smut and girlie and drove smut and girlie bars bars out of the city boundaries. out of the city boundaries. • Amidst strong resistance and Amidst strong resistance and charges in court put up by charges in court put up by operators, the mayor operators, the mayor relocated relocated bus and jeepney terminals bus and jeepney terminals outside the old business outside the old business district, district, ending gridlock and spurring ending gridlock and spurring new new enterprises at city’s edge.enterprises at city’s edge.

Barely a year at city hall, Mayor Robredo Barely a year at city hall, Mayor Robredo was conferred the “was conferred the “Dangal ng BayanDangal ng Bayan” award ” award by the Civil Service Commission, the first by the Civil Service Commission, the first local government official to receive the local government official to receive the recognition. By 1990, public revenues rose recognition. By 1990, public revenues rose and Naga regained its first-class status. and Naga regained its first-class status.

In 1991, the Philippine In 1991, the Philippine Jaycees chose Mayor Jaycees chose Mayor Robredo as one of the Robredo as one of the ““The Outstanding Young The Outstanding Young Men of the PhilippinesMen of the Philippines”. ”. Five years later, he was Five years later, he was conferred as one of conferred as one of ““The Outstanding Young The Outstanding Young Persons of the WorldPersons of the World” ” by the Jaycees by the Jaycees International in Kobe, International in Kobe, Japan, making him the Japan, making him the first and only Bicolano first and only Bicolano to win such a to win such a prestigious award.prestigious award.

He has served Naga City for an He has served Naga City for an unprecedented five 3-year terms as local unprecedented five 3-year terms as local chief executive. chief executive.

Described by a Japanese author as “Described by a Japanese author as “one one of the best mayors the Philippines of the best mayors the Philippines has ever hadhas ever had”, Mayor Robredo emerges ”, Mayor Robredo emerges as the country’s most awarded local chief as the country’s most awarded local chief executive.executive.

In 2000, Mayor Robredo was chosen as the In 2000, Mayor Robredo was chosen as the lone Filipino to receive the lone Filipino to receive the Ramon Ramon Magsaysay AwardMagsaysay Award, Asia’s version of the , Asia’s version of the Nobel Prize, for Government Service—the Nobel Prize, for Government Service—the onlyonly local government official to receive the local government official to receive the recognition so far. recognition so far.

To date, Mayor Robredo has brought 112 To date, Mayor Robredo has brought 112 awards to the city from various awards to the city from various international, national and regional international, national and regional organizations, 19 of which are etched in his organizations, 19 of which are etched in his name for his exemplary achievements.name for his exemplary achievements.

In December 2000, the In December 2000, the AsiaweekAsiaweek magazine selected Naga as one of the 4 magazine selected Naga as one of the 4 Most Improved CitiesMost Improved Cities in Asia where it in Asia where it

noted that “noted that “an unusual brand of an unusual brand of governance distinguishes Naga from its governance distinguishes Naga from its

more conventional counterpartsmore conventional counterparts.”.”

Mayor Robredo has championed the cause of Mayor Robredo has championed the cause of civil society participation in local government civil society participation in local government through trailblazing initiatives such as the through trailblazing initiatives such as the People Empowerment Program, the Kaantabay People Empowerment Program, the Kaantabay sa Kauswagan program and Reinventing the sa Kauswagan program and Reinventing the Naga City School Board program.Naga City School Board program.

“ “But perhaps the most But perhaps the most endearing legacy of endearing legacy of Mayor Robredo’s Mayor Robredo’s leadership is the strong leadership is the strong belief he has instilled belief he has instilled among Nagueños that among Nagueños that governance is a shared governance is a shared responsibility of public responsibility of public officials and citizenry, officials and citizenry, with government with government providing the people the providing the people the tools for their meaningful tools for their meaningful participation and active participation and active engagement,” engagement,”

- former President - former President Corazon C. AquinoCorazon C. Aquino

United Nations Public Service United Nations Public Service Award, New York, June 23, 2004Award, New York, June 23, 2004

Most Women-Friendly LGU World Most Women-Friendly LGU World Award, conferred by UNDP in Award, conferred by UNDP in Fukouka, Japan, March 8, 2004Fukouka, Japan, March 8, 2004

Cybercity Award for Asia-Pacific Cybercity Award for Asia-Pacific conferred by the UN Centre for conferred by the UN Centre for Human settlements, 2002Human settlements, 2002

Finalist, World Habitat 2002, Finalist, World Habitat 2002, conferred by the Building and conferred by the Building and Socialized Housing Foundation, Socialized Housing Foundation, Brussels, BelgiumBrussels, Belgium

Dubai International Award for Best Dubai International Award for Best Practices in Improving the Living Practices in Improving the Living Environment, 1998 Environment, 1998

Habitat II Best Practices Award, Habitat II Best Practices Award, conferred by the UN Centre for conferred by the UN Centre for Human Settlements, Istanbul, Human Settlements, Istanbul, Turkey, 1996Turkey, 1996

During Mayor Robredo’s term, Naga City During Mayor Robredo’s term, Naga City was recipient of several international was recipient of several international awards:awards:

During Mayor Robredo’s incumbency, During Mayor Robredo’s incumbency, Naga is considered a model local Naga is considered a model local government in the country and a government in the country and a laboratory of local government innovation.laboratory of local government innovation.

Mayor Robredo’s leadership has gone beyond Mayor Robredo’s leadership has gone beyond Naga City. He is a mentor of many other Naga City. He is a mentor of many other mayors in the country.  He goes to different mayors in the country.  He goes to different communities (from Cagayan Valley to Sulu, communities (from Cagayan Valley to Sulu, Mindanao) to work with mayors on instituting Mindanao) to work with mayors on instituting  participatory and efficient governance. participatory and efficient governance.

On why other governments and On why other governments and institutions fail: institutions fail:

““Maybe it is because they (politicians) Maybe it is because they (politicians) have failed to make heroes out of the have failed to make heroes out of the ordinary people. Maybe it is because they ordinary people. Maybe it is because they have relied solely on their own capacities, have relied solely on their own capacities, rather than on the contributions of the rather than on the contributions of the ordinary people that they are responsible ordinary people that they are responsible for.for.””

- Mayor Jesse M. Robredo