Kaya Natin!

Kaya Natin Champions hold up their signed covenants of good governance

And then there were twelve.

In a launching ceremony held last April 24 at the Ateneo de Manila University, Kaya Natin!, a movement espousing effective and ethical leadership in local government, introduced to the public seven new faces of good governance from all over the Philippines.

The new government officials are mostly mayors from cities and municipalities in Luzon and the Visayas. They will be joining Naga City Mayor Jesse Robredo, Isabela Governor Grace Padaca, Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio, Ifugao Governor Teddy Baguilat, and San Isidro, Nueva Ecija Mayor Sonia Lorenzo as they advocate issues such as transparency, social accountability, and people’s participation in government.

The seven new “Champions of Good Governance” are Mayor Fermin Mabulo of San Fernando, Camarines Sur; Vice Mayor Valente Yap of Bindoy, Negros Oriental; Mayor Florante Gerdan of Sante Fe, Nueva Vizcaya; former Mayor Baby Congco of Cabiao, Nueva Ecija; former Mayor Mary Jane Ortega of San Fernando, La Union; Mayor Marivic Belena of San Jose, Nueva Ecija; and Mayor Jun Verzosa of Tagudin, Ilocos Sur.

As part of the launching ceremony, all twelve local officials signed a covenant of good governance, pledging to support the eradication of illegal gambling and graft and corruption, the extension with reform of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), and electoral reform. The covenant also includes a position on charter change, where the champions agree that a constitutional amendment before the elections next year would not be acceptable, as well as a pledge to practice transparency and social accountability in their local government unit and let the people participate in governance.

Each of the champions was also given a Kaya Natin! baller ID band by the five original champions to symbolize their being part of the movement. They were then given a chance to respond. All of them gave their appreciation to Kaya Natin! for including them in the group and committed to the ideals and best practices of good governance.

Gov. Grace Padaca gives Mayor Marivic Belena of San Jose, Nueva Ecija, a KN baller ID band as a welcoming symbol to the group.

Former mayors Ortega and Congco said that the duty of a good public servant does not end when their term ends, but rather continues as long as they are citizens of the Philippines.

Mayors Mabulo, Gerdan, and Verzosa shared their experiences as former military and police officers, and how they were able to overcome the stigma of corruption and prove to their constituents the sincerity of their public service.

Vice Mayor Yap and Mayor Belena likewise extended their gratitude to the group, and claimed that now they believe governing effectively and ethically is easier with a support group like Kaya Natin!, knowing that they are not alone in the fight against graft and corruption in the country.

The seven officials were chosen based on their merit and standards of ethics in governing their local government units. Harvey Keh, lead convenor, hopes that the movement will be able to find more leaders like the twelve.

“We are actively searching and researching other local government officials who we believe espouse effective and ethical leadership,” he said. He believes that since the group has already launched seven new champions, they will be able to introduce more leaders on a regular basis.

“We want the Filipinos to get to know these people, and realize that good government officials are not extinct in Philippine politics. At the same time, we want to encourage these leaders to continue their practice of good governance and extend a hand of support to them in any way we could,” he said.