Award-giving body in memory of Robredo proposed

The late multi-awarded public servant Jesse Robredo should have an award named after him Quezon Rep. Lorenzo Tanada III, Robredo's partymate said Wednesday.

"If there’s an Oscar for great films  or a Grammy for best song then why not  a 'Jesse' for good governance?," Tanada said in a press statement, as he proposed a Jesse Robredo Awards for Local Good Governance.

He said the awards would be "a way of perpetuating not only the works and the memory of a great man but (also) his principles and management style."

The proposed awards is meant to honor public servants as well as government programs "in all aspects of local government service, from budget matters to peace and order."

Among the suggested categories so far include Best Tanod, Best Financially-Managed Town, Tanada said. The awards could also recognize green initiatives by LGUs that could be replicated around the country, he said, adding the the awards could have many categories since local governance is complex.

"Personally, I am batting for a Best LGU Website award, one that will have a high FOI quotient," he said, referring to the Freedom of Information bill that he is pushing at the House of Representatives.

"Actually, there are many Robredos on the ground. He can be the honest and hardworking traffic enforcer who does not leave his post come hell or high water. Or the barrio doctor who still makes house
calls in the dead of the night," he said.

Tanada made clear that the proposed awards is still just an idea and the rules and categories can be finalized by the Department of Interior and Local Government, the Civil Service Commission, the UP National College of Public Administration, the Ateneo School of Government, and by NGOs.

Aside from recognition, awardees could get cash or fund grants for projects, Tanada said.

His office told Yahoo! Southeast Asia that the proposal for the Robredo awards will be formalized at the House in the form of a resolution.