Leni takes oath, unveils agenda for livable Naga

By JASON B. NEOLA

MAYOR Ma. Leonor Gerona Robredo assumed office on Monday, June 30, 2025 with a bold and comprehensive development agenda centered on inclusive growth, environmental resilience, and citizen-centered governance.

In her inaugural address, Mayor Robredo unveiled a city roadmap built on seven priority goals—or “Finish Lines”—that aim to raise the quality of life of every Nagueño, strengthen the city’s reputation for good governance, and make Naga a happier, more livable, and forward-looking city.

Among the major thrusts of her administration are the creation of an inclusive local economy, stronger environmental stewardship, efficient social protection systems, preservation of cultural identity, and the institutionalization of open and digital governance.

“These Finish Lines are more than just aspirations,” she said. “They form the path to a future where every Nagueño can reach their dreams—and be proud of their contribution to our city’s course,” she stressed.

8 Finish Lines

1. Inclusive and thriving economy – Support to urban poor and farming communities, promotion of priority industries, skills development for the local workforce, and streamlined business processes to attract investors.

2. Cleaner, greener, and climate-resilient city – Strengthen solid waste management, flood preparedness, and develop more open green spaces integrated into daily community life.

3. Walkable, safe, and organized neighborhoods – Improve transport systems, promote responsible pet ownership, and enhance mechanisms for peace and order.

4. Data-driven social protection systems – Improve healthcare and education indicators, address housing needs, and ensure effective delivery of welfare and disaster-response services.

5. Cultural preservation and creative growth – Uphold Naga’s history, language, and heritage while building a supportive environment for creatives and local artists.

6. Open, digital, and participatory governance – Widen citizen engagement through accessible technology and transparent systems.

7. Efficient, agile, and citizen-focused city government – Align city hall operations with community goals through a united and performance-driven workforce.

8. Sustained good governance and innovation – Make Naga, once more, a center of good governance, development, and innovation by enhancing and sustaining the systems that the city pioneered and is known for nationwide.

Robredo emphasized that the roadmap was developed during the transition period, with inputs from sectoral stakeholders. “More than reclaiming our identity as a model for good governance, we are building a future that is inclusive, livable, and sustainable. A Naga City where no one is left behind, and every citizen is a collaborator in development,” she said.

A historic return

While her message was largely forward-looking, Mayor Robredo opened her speech with a deeply personal reflection, recalling the moment her husband, the late Jesse, took his oath as city mayor on February 2, 1988, in the same place where she stood—then just a modest gazebo, now the Naga City People’s Hall.

“I was 23 years old, a new mother to my eldest daughter Aika, and just beginning to chase my own dreams,” she said. “But I knew I was already part of something greater—Jesse’s vision of a better Naga.”

She credited her husband’s legacy with laying the groundwork for the city’s growth and recognition as a bastion of good governance. “His dream sparked Naga’s progress. But more importantly, Naga’s success was built on the collective trust, effort, and sacrifice of its people.”

Robredo emphasized that her administration will uphold the Naga brand of trustworthy governance—one that invites citizen participation and believes in shared leadership. “The story of Naga is not just about one leader. It’s about a city that has always worked together—leaders and people alike,” she said.

“In my own journey, the detours and unexpected challenges brought me here. Each time I was called to serve, I tried to live by the values of a true Nagueño: to inspire hope, invite others to act, and lead with honesty and integrity,” she said.

Concluding her address, Mayor Robredo assured her constituents of her unwavering commitment to public service. “Rest assured, this mandate you have given me will not go to naught. Together, we will build a Naga that is not only admired across the nation—but truly loved by its own people.”

“With purpose and unity, we declare the kind of city we are determined to build together—anchored on the promise made many years ago by Jesse: to make Naga a happy place for every Nagueño.”

OATH Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo formally takes her oath of office before Naga-born Court of Appeals Justice Ramon Cruz. With her are daughters Aika and Jillian, brother-in-law Butch Robredo and sister-in-law Jean Robredo-Tang. Photo courtesy of Winson Escolano/CITY MAYOR’S OFFICE.

Infrastructure, civic life

Robredo vowed to breathe new life into Naga City’s aging infrastructures and public spaces. In her June 30 inaugural address, she unveiled an extensive series of programs that target rehabilitation, public safety, and urban mobility.

“We will inject life into the city’s infrastructures, especially those suffering from dilapidation and damages due to poor maintenance,” Mayor Robredo declared before a crowd of supporters and local officials, signalling her administration’s resolve to prioritize inclusive development and sustainable urban renewal.

As early as July 1, repair works began at the Metro Naga Sports Complex, where the city plans to launch a comprehensive grassroot sports program aimed at empowering the youth and promoting active lifestyles.

Mayor Robredo also announced rehabilitation efforts for the Jesse Robredo Coliseum, envisioned not only as a premier venue for national and international events but also as a safe and dignified evacuation center during calamities.

“The glory days of the Naga City Civic Center shall return,” she said, promising to transform the facility into a vibrant gathering space for recreational and cultural activities, especially for the city’s young ones.

Robredo further emphasized the revitalization of Central Business District 1, which she described as a key piece of the city’s historical and heritage identity. “We shall bring back its cleanliness, orderliness, and character—deserving of its role as our heritage center,” she said.

Another major priority is the completion of Naga River Esplanade Phase 1, a multi-functional project that aims to mitigate flooding, rejuvenate the city’s river ecosystem, and create a linear park stretching from the Naga City Public Market to Our Lady of Peñafrancia Basilica. “This will be a place where people can walk, reflect, and commune with nature,” Robredo said.

The mayor also committed to clearing sidewalks of illegally parked vehicles and obstructions, making them safer and more accessible to pedestrians and bikers. She underscored the need for better infrastructure that upholds public safety and promotes active transport.

Following long negotiations with the Casureco II and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Robredo confirmed that the relocation of electric posts obstructing major roads will begin immediately, resolving long-standing safety hazards for motorists.

To address the city’s growing traffic woes, she announced the upcoming appointment of a Transportation and Mobility Coordinator, an expert who will craft data-driven, comprehensive solutions to urban congestion.

“Our infrastructure improvements are not just about concrete and steel,” Mayor Robredo said in closing. “They’re about giving our people safer spaces, more opportunities, and a better quality of life.”

Anti-corruption drive

On her first day in office, she wasted no time in demonstrating her resolve to uphold transparency and accountability as she signed Executive Order No. 001, which institutes the Zero Tolerance Policy Against Corruption of 2025 in the City Government of Naga.

The executive order was the centerpiece of Robredo’s inaugural address, delivered before a packed audience composed of city hall employees, barangay officials, civil society organizations, business leaders, and representatives from various sectors at the Naga City People’s Hall.

Admitting that she never planned to run for city mayor, Robredo said she made the difficult decision “to ensure that the sacrifices made for good governance are protected, sustained, and taken to the next level.”

The crowd erupted into applause 47 times during her speech, a reflection of the strong public support for the bold initiatives she unveiled. These included the removal of confidential funds from the city’s budget, the rehabilitation of key public facilities, the creation of an inclusive local economy, the establishment of an efficient social protection system, and a mass regularization program for casual employees.

At the heart of Executive Order No. 001 is a reaffirmation of the 1987 Philippine Constitution’s declaration that public office is a public trust. Citing Article XI, Section 1, the EO mandates that all public officials must remain accountable to the people, and serve with integrity, loyalty, efficiency, and responsibility at all times.

To operationalize the anti-corruption agenda, Robredo’s EO gives expanded authority to the city’s Internal Audit Service (IAS), establishing it as an independent monitoring, evaluation, and assurance unit.

The IAS will function as the city government’s internal accountability mechanism, empowered to assess performance, investigate integrity issues, and verify compliance across all departments and personnel in accordance with ethical standards and governance principles.

The IAS is tasked to: Monitor compliance with the Zero Tolerance Policy; Evaluate governance performance across all departments, offices, and units; Ensure alignment of programs and processes with good governance principles and legal frameworks.

The executive order was widely seen as Robredo’s first concrete step toward delivering on her promise of a transparent, citizen-centered government. It also aligns with one of the eight “Finish Lines” she unveiled in her inaugural speech—a city roadmap built on priority goals that include making Naga once more a center of good governance, development, and innovation.