By Jelly F. Musico
MANILA, Aug. 20 (PNA) — President Benigno Aquino III has signed into law a bill declaring August 18 of every year as “Jesse Robredo Day.”
Registered as Republic Act No. 10669, the new law was signed by President Aquino last Aug. 18 during the 3rd death anniversary of the late Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary who died in a plane crash off Masbate waters.
”August 18 of every year is hereby declared as ‘Jesse Robredo Day’ which shall be special working holiday,” stated in the law.
It added the ‘Jesse Robredo Day’ should be celebrated in all elementary and secondary schools throughout the country.
”In the event that the holiday falls on a weekend, the holiday shall be observed on the Friday of that week,” it explained.
The Department of Education (DepEd) has been tasked “to plan and implement activities for the “Jessie Robredo Day” and ensure that Jessie Robredo’s legacy of good governance and leadership is given emphasis to encourage students to continue the same for the good of the Philippines and the Filipino people.
The law was approved by the Senate on June 9 last year as Senate Bill No. 1281 and was adopted as amendment to the House Bill No. 4768 on May 12 this year.
Last Tuesday, President Aquino and DILG Secretary Mar Roxas led the commemoration of the third death anniversary of Robredo.
Robredo won the heart of the Filipino people for simplicity, humility and reforms in good governance he exemplified as former Naga City mayor and as Interior secretary.
The husband of now Naga City Rep. Leni Robredo was a Ramon Magsaysay awardee. (PNA)