Robredo stresses the need to involve civil society in governance

By NINFA B. QUIRANTE
September 24, 2010

CATBALOGAN, Samar – Jesse Robredo, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary stressed the need for local governments to involve civil society in governance.

DILG secretary Jesse Robredo at the SIPPAD Assembly in Catbalogan, Samar Citing his 19-year experience as Naga City Mayor, Robredo cited this in his keynote address as he faced the Samar Island Partnership for Peace and Development (SIPPAD) assembly on September 22, 2010 in Catbalogan, Samar.

SIPPAD is an assembly of the three Bishops of Eastern, Northern and West Samar provinces with the army, police, academe, civil society and the media.

“Sharing power, they will return us back the power,” Robredo said.

In Naga City, he said, there is a People’s Council and in all government dealings, processes and transactions, the people’s council is always represented.

“Good governance and good politics can go together,” the veteran mayor encouraged the three governors present namely: Eastern Samar Governor Conrado Nicart, Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan and Leyte Governnor Jericho Petilla.

“Good governance costs sacrifices in almost everyone,” the former Naga City mayor added.

He admitted that some political systems promote divisiveness but the leaders can do better by inviting them (civil society) to participate in governance.

“But the civil society must have a legal personality.” Robredo cleared.

The more than a hundred SIPPAD members were clearly smitted by the articulate secretary who has been under fire lately for the botched hostage drama crisis and the jueteng pay-offs recently bared by retired Bishop Oscar Cruz.

While the media was unable to get the comments of the three governors present on his proposals, it was inherent that they may have considered his suggestions as they attentively hang on to every word and sentence uttered by this multi-awarded gentleman from Bicol. (PIA-Samar)