Mayor Jesse Robredo (Photo credit: Jesse Robredo website)

NAGA CITY MAYOR JESSE ROBREDO will be in Sydney on September 25 to 28 to give a lecture at two universities, launch the Synergeia Foundation in New South Wales, and hold a forum with the Bicolano community, the Philippine consulate General in Sydney has recently announced.

Mayor Robredo will speak on “The Challenges and Promotion of Good Governance in the Philippines” at the University of New South Wales on September 25 at 4:00 to 6:00 pm, at the School of Social Sciences and International Studies, and at the University of Sydney on September 26 at 4:30 to 6:00 pm, at Education Room 325, Education Building, Manning Road.

His audience are expected to be Australian and Asian academics, university students, and opinion-makers, said the Sydney consulate.

Mayor Robredo will also launch in New South Wales the program of Synergeia Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the assistance of marginalized schools in the Philippines. He will also hold on September 27 an interactive forum with the Bicol Communities League, Inc. (Bicol Inc.) with its president Fiel Fraulein Bandekar.

Naga City, a modern multi-awards city

Mayor Robredo transformed Naga City from a stagnant provincial town to a prosperous city. The improvements in the economic, fiscal, business, and social climate of the city were so remarkable that it has received over 150 awards and citations from international organizations, including the Most Cost-Effective City in Asia (UK, 2005), Women-Friendly City (UN Development Fund for Women, 2004), Model City for Government Procurement (World Bank and Procurement Watch, 2003), CyberCity Award (UNDP, 2002), International Award for Improving the Living Environment (Dubai, 1998), and “Most Child-Friendly City” (Philippine Council for the Welfare of Children, 2006).

A few years ago, Naga bested richer urban centers Manila, Makati, Cebu, Marikina, and Davao when it was recognized as the “Most Business-Friendly City” by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (in 2003, 2004 and 2006).

For his leadership of Naga City and empowerment of its civic groups, Mayor Robredo was honoured with the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service (2000).

The Ramon Magsaysay Awards is the Asian equivalent of the Nobel Peace Prize and is awarded to individuals and organisations in Asia for exceptional service to the public, integrity in government, and pragmatic idealism within a democratic society.

The Magsaysay Awards have been given to more than 200 recipients since these were first presented in 1958.#