September 1, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Naga Metropolis Mayor Leni Robredo has formally joined the Mayors for Good Governance (M4GG), a gaggle of native chief executives advocating for transparency and accountability in authorities.
The M4GG, whose convenors embody Mayors Benjie Magalong of Baguio, Vico Sotto of Pasig, Pleasure Belmonte of Quezon Metropolis and Sitti Hataman of Isabela Metropolis in Basilan, introduced the primary batch of its new members for the present 2025 to 2028 time period.
“Being a member of M4GG isn’t just an honor or a mere ‘badge of recognition.’ It’s a profound duty. It represents a pledge to serve with the best integrity and to face firmly for the welfare of your constituents,” the group’s assertion learn in Filipino.
“It’s a obligation that requires placing transparency, innovation and accountability on the forefront of each determination and motion,” it added.
All new members will start as observers, described as a “interval to completely perceive and interact with the imaginative and prescient of M4GG.”
To turn out to be a full-fledged member, the chief executives should attend no less than three official actions of the group.
“Via this, we will be certain that each member is an lively companion in constructing a extra affluent and brighter Philippines,” the M4GG stated.
Robredo, who started her first time period as Naga Metropolis mayor this 12 months, earlier expressed her willingness to affix the group and assist its name for transparency and accountability, together with within the concern of alleged anomalous flood management tasks.
She met individually with Magalong and Belmonte throughout her go to to Metro Manila final week.
Other than Robredo, among the many 51 new members of M4GG embody Mayors Wes Gatchalian of Valenzuela, Raisa Treñas of Iloilo Metropolis, Susan Yap of Tarlac Metropolis and Abelardo Bantug III of Victorias Metropolis in Negros Occidental.
At the least 70 members of the M4GG, together with “alumni” or former mayors who have been among the many founding members, lately signed a manifesto demanding full transparency, accountability and justice on flood management tasks.
Three new members have up to now signed the assertion as effectively: Robredo, Gatchalian and Mayor Chris Evert Tadeo-Leynes of Umingan, Pangasinan.
Dedication to good governance
Now on his second mayoral time period, Gatchalian – who grew to become a member of M4GG on Aug. 30 – has launched packages on schooling, social welfare, peace and order, housing, catastrophe preparedness and flood resilience, amongst others, for what he calls “Pamilyang Valenzuelano.”
Underneath his management, Valenzuela has obtained the Seal of Good Native Governance for 2 consecutive years and constantly obtained unmodified opinions from the Fee on Audit, which town authorities stated was proof of transparency and accountability in its monetary administration.
In 2024, Valenzuela’s baby safety program was named among the many excellent native governance packages by the Galing Pook Awards.
“Good governance shouldn’t be a pattern in Valenzuela – it has been our lifestyle for years. M4GG is an opportunity to deliver the identical combat for accountability and transparency to the nationwide stage,” Gatchalian stated. – Mark Ernest Villeza
