Nineteenth International Conference on Diversity in Organizations, Communities & Nations

Abstract

Naga City has consistently been recognized for its “best practices” in local governance. With over 140 awards and recognitions under its belt, the city’s good governance model serves as a potent reference on how to effectively harness and institutionalize an active partnership between the local government, the private sector, civil society, and the people. Several factors account for the city’s successful governance innovations. Among them, the enactment of the Local Government Code; the existence and active participation of the city’s strong network of community-based organizations (CBOs); and the sustained human resource development of city officials and staff (Angeles, 2007). But perhaps, most frequently mentioned is the local government leadership of Jesus “Jesse” Manalastas Robredo, one of the primary proponents of Naga’s Good Governance Model and the city’s mayor for eighteen years. When his plans to step down from the Mayoralty post surfaced, inquiries on how Naga would survive without Robredo likewise appeared. Will the reforms that his administration set in place carry on without him or will their efforts be dampened when a new leadership takes his place? Do governance innovations stand the test of time? Will they be affected by changes in the government and its leadership? This paper, in describing Naga City’s recent history, offers fresh insights on the sustainability of governance innovations and their long-term impact on the government, the city’s policy structure and the community.