NAGA CITY — On her first day in office, newly-installed Mayor Leni Robredo 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.” Her pronouncement drew enthusiastic cheers and applause from the crowd.
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.
Each announcement was met with resounding cheers from the audience.
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, conduct validation check on 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.
With her administration now underway, Mayor Robredo has clearly drawn a firm line against corruption, marking a new chapter in Naga City’s continuing legacy of reform. | via Jason B. Neola
