MANILA — Former Dumaguete City mayor Atty. Felipe Antonio “Ipe” Remollo served as the keynote speaker at the convocation ceremony of the Leadership and Governance (LeGo) Fellowship Program for Mayors, held March 12, 2026, at Ibis Styles Manila, Araneta Cubao, Quezon City.
The LeGo Fellowship Program for Mayors is a national executive training initiative organized by the Jesse M. Robredo Foundation (JMRF) in partnership with Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) Philippines.
LeGo Fellowship Program Convocation
The convocation marked the culmination of an intensive seven-month fellowship program designed to strengthen the capacities of local chief executives in participatory governance.
According to an invitation letter from the Jesse M. Robredo Foundation, Remollo’s experience as a former local chief executive and alumnus of the LeGo program made him an ideal speaker to guide a new generation of mayors. The foundation cited his insights and experiences as valuable contributions to the fellows' understanding of how to sustain genuine people’s participation in their respective local governments.
The LeGo Fellowship Program is known as one of the premier leadership programs for mayors in the Philippines. It is anchored on the governance philosophy of the late Interior Secretary and Naga City mayor Jesse Robredo, promoting the values of “Matino, Mahusay, at May Puso,” which translates to sensible/righteous, excellent/competent, and compassionate leadership.
Program Objectives and Structure
The LeGo Fellowship aims to equip mayors with the knowledge and tools to build transparent systems that reflect these values. The program promotes a shift from constituents being mere beneficiaries of government programs to becoming active, empowered partners in shaping their communities. A multi-stakeholder approach emphasizes collaboration beyond mayors, including local government department heads, Civil Society Organization (CSO) desk officers, and community leaders.
The seven-month fellowship is structured around face-to-face modules and term-planning workshops. The curriculum is divided into four pillars:
- Module 1: Introduction to People’s Participation, heavily studying the Naga City Governance Model to inspire mayors to adopt innovative approaches to engage and empower their constituents.
- Module 2: Building LGU-CSO Partnerships, which focuses on bridging the gap between the government and the citizenry by showcasing effective strategies for collaborating with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to address community issues and promote transparency.
- Module 3: Institutionalization of the Empowerment Ordinance, which teaches mayors how to develop, draft, and implement local ordinances that legally mandate citizen participation in local decision-making and leverage citizen engagement to prevent graft and corruption.
- Module 4: Sustaining Mechanisms for People Empowerment, which covers continuous learning, digital engagement, communication strategies, and monitoring and evaluation.
2026 Fellowship Graduates
During the convocation ceremony, certificates were awarded to the mayors who successfully completed the program. The 2026 cohort included mayors from across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao:
- Mayor Sylvester Austria of Jaen, Nueva Ecija
- Mayor Trina Andres of Rizal, Nueva Ecija
- Mayor Mike Galang of Floridablanca, Pampanga
- Mayor RB Aquino of Moncada, Tarlac
- Mayor Belen Raga of Lumban, Laguna
- Mayor Queen Alarva of Pila, Laguna
- Mayor Markgregor Sayson of Libon, Albay
- Mayor Prescilla Calizo of Balete, Aklan
- Mayor Katkat Suan of Allen, Northern Samar
Remollo's Keynote Address
Remollo’s selection as the keynote speaker placed him among a select group of local leaders invited to share practical lessons in governance. During his tenure as mayor of Dumaguete City, he oversaw a period of infrastructure development, tourism expansion, and public facility modernization. His supporters say this reflected a management style focused on execution.
Organizers said Remollo’s address was intended to inspire and ground the graduating fellows in the realities of local leadership. Policy decisions often carry immediate consequences for communities, making practical experience invaluable.
Photos released from the event show Remollo receiving a certificate of appreciation, delivering his keynote address, and participating in the formal convocation rites.
Program Impact and Legacy
The LeGo program emphasizes institutionalizing Local People’s Councils, reflecting a growing push among governance advocates to formalize citizen participation in decision-making processes. This approach promotes citizens as partners in shaping policy rather than merely beneficiaries of government programs.
The program's emphasis on citizen participation and transparency resonates strongly in Negros Oriental, where community engagement in local governance is often seen as vital for sustainable development. The experiences shared by mayors from other regions could provide valuable insights for local officials and community leaders in Dumaguete City and throughout the province.
For Remollo, the invitation to serve as keynote speaker carried symbolic weight, linking a generation of veteran local executives with younger officials expected to lead in a more transparent and connected political landscape.
Future Implications
Events like the LeGo convocation are becoming increasingly important spaces where leadership is discussed in terms of institutional discipline, long-term planning, and accountability, reflecting the legacy of Jesse Robredo.
As the ceremony concluded, fellows were reminded that the true test of the program would be in their municipalities, where the principles of “Matino, Mahusay, at May Puso” must be applied in the face of real-world challenges.
Remollo’s role as keynote speaker underscored the message that the measure of public service is not how long one stays in office, but what systems remain after leaving it.
Photo credit: Courtesy of the Jesse M. Robredo Foundation