NAGA CITY -- Mayor Jesse Robredo, the longest reigning local chief executive of this city spanning four presidents, wanted to turn over to the next mayor of this city a metropolis with legacy of good governance, sustainable economic growth, cultural vibrancy and improved quality of life when his term ends in 2010.

        Addressing Monday the Sangguniang Panglungsod in an open session to announce his policy statements in his last term of office, Robredo pledged “to build a more progressive Naga on the twin foundations of social justice and sustainable economic growth” in the last three years of his 18-year term as the mayor here.

        The mayor targets to complete the circumferential and radial access roads to improve the flow of traffic as economic growth pushes urban development to the fringes.“The original development plan of the city calls for a radial-circumferential pattern of growth. But what we currently have is only half of the city’s circumferential road, where the Centro-Magsaysay jeepneys run in both directions,” he said.

        Robredo added the completion of the circumferential road would link up the business districts and neighboring towns, further improving the road network ratio of the city, with road widening projects included to decongest traffic bottlenecks.

        He foresees improved economic activities in newly opened up roads as new jeepney routes and terminals established and new bridges constructed.

        A new bridge across Naga River, connecting PNR Naga station to barangay Dinaga will be constructed to respond to the increased economic activities brought about by the establishment of the SM Mall at the Central Business District 2.

        “We will request the national government to realign its budgetary outlay for a proposed flyover at the Magsaysay-Panganiban junction towards this priority project (redevelopment of opened up area near SM Mall),” Robredo added.

        But along this line of development, Robredo also wanted to look beyond the city’s territory by strengthening Naga’s leadership role in Bicol, setting trends in investments and development and pushing the region at the top of the country’s tourism destinations.

        He said in his last term of office the city government would invest on facilities to position itself as a convention city with the Coliseum completed next year that could compliment private sector investments in tourism sub-sector.

        With emphasis on good practices in governance he made the city known for and cited by local and international organizations, Robredo said they will continue to set trends in investments and development by leveraging the comparative advantage of the city.

        Revisiting the much-acclaimed participatory and transparency in governance, the mayor pushes for stronger accountability standards for the city government, wherein, he added, would raise the bar higher for the city government, both for elected officials and employees at the city hall.

        He said that for the next three years a system of rewards and penalties would be crafted and implemented for the institutional and individual service commitments and performance pledges. For this, the Naga Institute of Local Governance, as training arm to institute gains in the field of governance, would be established.

        Robredo revealed that among the physical changes to be introduced is the P120-M “Green Naga River Walkway” that would stretch from Magsaysay Avenue to Tabuco.

        “This will require the relocation of some settlers and families who have encroached on the riverfront. But guided by our experience with the Kaantabay program, we will sit down with all stakeholders in fashioning a mutually acceptable solutiong to which we will implement by phase,” he explained.

        The Kaantabay program of Naga City was a Unesco cited program for the urban poor that secured them relocation sites to reestablish their residence and prevent the spread and increase of urban poor families squatting on private lands.

        The greening of Naga City included the establishment of greenbelt spaces that would ring built up areas and planting 15,000-20,000 trees within these areas.

        Robredo said the continued operation of the current dumpsite is no longer tenable and the dumpsite has to be relocated to “a better, more ideal and more manageable location within the next three years”.

        He also committed to restore the vibrancy of local arts and culture with such projects as the community- and school-based reading centers, creation of local institute that will standardize the Bicol-Naga language, restoration of teaching Bicol culture and grammar and promotion of Bikol literature including performance and visual arts.

        “This three-year development agenda that operationalize our difficult dreams for Naga will not be easy. But I am ready to expend the political capital and the political will needed to see them through, and in the process make the most of our fresh mandate.