Appointment of next Local Government chief crucial

APPOINTING the next chief of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is a crucial step for the government and needs vigilance among Filipino people, said Bishop Broderick Pabillo.

Pabillo, chairperson of the National Secretariat for Social Action, Justice and Peace (Nassa) of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said the post left by Robredo is a very big shoe to fill.

In a statement posted in a Catholic online, Pabillo said finding someone to do the job rightly like what Secretary Robredo did is a big challenge for the government.

Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio Ledesma said whoever succeeds Robredo must continue his legacy of good governance, transparency and accountability.

Ledesma expressed hopes that Robredo’s lasting legacy of good governance will continue to ignite the flame, which is necessary in the government’s campaign against corruption.

Meanwhile, Bukidnon Governor Alex Calingasan said anybody who will be named the next DILG chief must follow Robredo’s footsteps, “otherwise people will criticize his successors.”

“It humbles me down having a Secretary who personally answers to the needs of the people. He never failed to answer my call and text to him with matters pertaining to the welfare of the peace and security of the province,” Calingasan said on Wednesday.

Calingasan said Robredo is a very simple and sincere man. “In my entire stint as public official, it never happened that a secretary will personally call me or answered calls and text messages where he can direct it to his staff.”

On Wednesday, a mass was offered by the employees of the DILG regional office for Robredo.