Rep. Javier Miguel L. Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) joined fellow Negrosanon leaders at the 3rd Anniversary Good Governance Summit and General Assembly of Mayors for Good Governance (M4GG) at the Diamond Hotel Manila, Saturday, August 22.
Benitez served as co-host of the full-day program alongside Rep. Agatha Paula Cruz.
Victorias City Mayor Abelardo Bantug III and Bago City Mayor Marina Javellana-Yao were also present and took part in the assembly together with M4GG convenors Mayor Benjie Magalong of Baguio City, Mayor Joy Belmonte of Quezon City, Mayor Vico Sotto of Pasig City, and Mayor Sitti Hataman of Isabela City, Basilan.
“Good governance is proven in practice, and our mayors are proving it. It is an honor to stand with M4GG on its third anniversary, and to see Negrosanon leaders in this room committing to the same standard of integrity and accountability,” Benitez said.
Founded in August 2023, M4GG is a non-profit movement of over 100 reform-minded local chief executives committed to fighting corruption and advancing transparent, accountable, and people-centered governance through strong and empowered local governments, a press release for the office of Benitez said.
The movement has drawn mayors from across political parties, regions, and ideologies around a shared commitment to integrity.
Its advocacies have taken concrete form over the past year.
M4GG launched REPORT INFRA, a channel for citizens and stakeholders to flag suspected ghost, overpriced, or substandard infrastructure projects.
The group has pushed for greater public access to national budget information, backed the increase of the Local Government Support Fund to Php 57 billion, and met with the Department of Social Welfare and Development on more effective local implementation of social welfare programs, the press release said.
Earlier this year, it ran the LEAP Open Government Fellowship Program, a capacity-building track for first-term mayors focused on integrity, innovation, transparency, participatory governance, and data-driven leadership.
The summit opened with remarks from Daniela Braun of KAS Philippines and a welcome from M4GG President and Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte.
Romblon Governor Trina Firmalo-Fabic delivered the first talk on breaking barriers in public service, followed by a panel with Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo, Mayor Law Fortun, and Mayor Bruce Matabalao.
A second panel on translating good governance into practice featured M4GG Chairperson and Baguio City Mayor Benjie Magalong, Mayor Belmonte, Isabela City Mayor Sitti Hataman, and Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto.
The gathering culminated in a report from the M4GG National Secretariat and a Commitment Ceremony, where member mayors renewed their pledge to put people’s welfare first, manage public resources responsibly, promote citizen participation, uphold the rule of law, and lead with integrity and transparency. *
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