Naga City got its first lady mayor following the vote announcement on May 12, 2025. The Philippines’ former Vice President and newly elected Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo is ready to carve a new history as the chief of the city. “We will strengthen mechanisms for good governance, particularly in transparency, accountability, and people empowerment to give heart and soul to our programmes,” Robredo said after she cast her vote. While time will tell how far this will be reflected in her administration, we can look at her legacy as a Vice President to give us a hint.
Angat Buhay, her flagship anti-poverty programme, is said to be her best legacy. The programme targets the poor and marginalised sectors of society – fisherfolks, farmers, and market vendors, among others, through poverty alleviation programmes that support their livelihoods. The programme seeks opportunities to alleviate poverty in a community by mobilising public and private organisations and individuals to build the capacity of the urban poor, women, disaster-affected families, and the youth.
In January 2022, Angat Buhay was reported to mobilise P2.43 million toward youth empowerment, helping more than 391 youth from 140 youth groups. The Angat Buhay Youth also organised seven youth summits and helped with more than 46 projects that aim to help their respective communities.
In the health sector, under the Office of Vice President, Robredo built a mental health facility and had feeding programmes for communities with a high number of malnourished and stunted children, which mobilised P39.49 million for about 44 programmes focusing on combating malnutrition.
In education, Angat Buhay provided P122.96 million for infrastructure. This includes 81 classrooms and five dormitories for students. Scholarships and skills training were also provided for more than 120 youth, including out-of-school youth in Sumisip, Basilan, senior high school students in Panglao, Bohol and Mulanay, Quezon, and accountancy students at Mindanao State University.
For women’s empowerment, there was the Angat Buhay Workshop for Aspiring Women Entrepreneurs to give representation, voice, and active participation in society. More than 138 women in Visayas and Mindanao got access to different livelihood opportunities, work, capital, and mentoring from experts.
The Angat Buhay Sustainable Livelihood and Training was also established. Under the scheme, more than P15.39 million worth of livelihood projects were turned over to 156 fishermen, farmers, small business owners, and riders, among others, including 33 accredited civil society organisations (CSOs) and 11 nanay (mother) entrepreneurs.
The Angat Buhay programme continues even after she stepped down from the Vice President role. It is even formalised into a non-profit, non-governmental organisation. The legacy remains, holding on to the value of partnership for the marginalised community.
Leading Naga City, Mayor Leni Robredo chooses good governance as a priority. Why not promote the programme? “Yes, you can have programmes on health, education, and the environment, but if there is no good governance, it’s hard. So for me, it’s all about people’s participation,” she stressed.
Sources:
https://mb.com.ph/2022/1/2/leni-robredos-six-years-as-vp-what-she-has-achieved
https://mb.com.ph/2021/7/28/robredo-says-angat-buhay-is-her-best-legacy
https://www.inquirer.net/442191/leni-robredo-bats-for-transparency-good-governance-if-she-wins-in-naga/
https://www2.naga.gov.ph/naga-city-profile/
Wikipedia
