Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. is one of the keynote speakers during the 1st Jesse M. Robredo Good Governance Summit on September 24, 2026 at Sequoia Hotel Manila Bay, Aseana Business Park, Paranaque City.
Addressing an audience of 73 local leaders, including governors, mayors, and board members, Governor Defensor delivered an inspirational message on people-centered governance and redefining public service at the local level.
Among the participants are Mayor Nielo “Bongbong” Tupas of Barotac Viejo and Mayor Vicente “Junjun” Jaen II of Leganes.
In his speech, Defensor stressed that public service is about people empowerment and putting the welfare of the public first.
“We often asked ourselves, ‘Why am I here?’ The bottomline is, we have to go back to Section 16 of the Local Government Code which is the general welfare of our constituents. Our commitment is to ensure that our people survive. That is what the government is,” Defensor said.
Defensor highlighted that in the province of Iloilo, "good governance is not a goal, but a standard."
Governor Defensor also presented his 4K for MoRProGres Program which institutionalizes peace, order and resilience towards national development.
He also underscored the importance for leaders to address the education crisis nationwide, particularly on reading proficiency. He introduced his Bulig Eskwela sang Probinsya (BES Probins) Program which aims to uplift the education system in the province of Iloilo.
Moreoever, the summit was graced by Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan.
Governor Defensor is one of the three inaugural governor fellows of the Governors for Good Governance (G4GG) Leadership Fellowship Program organized by the Jesse M. Robredo Foundation together with the Kaya Natin Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership.
The other two fellows are Gov. Trina Firmalo-Fabio of Romblon and Gov. Darel Dexter Uy of Zamboanga del Norte.
The Jesse M. Robredo Foundation is an official partner of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in the implementation of Support to Local Government Projects.
The late Jesse Robredo served as the 23rd Secretary of the DILG.
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