Former Vice President and now Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo, Senator Bam Aquino, and Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte met on a rare occasion at Malacañang Palace on Monday, February 23, during a government event focused on improving public school infrastructure.
The three officials attended the presentation of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the Nationwide Classroom Building Program, earlier signed by the Department of Education (DepEd) and local leaders from cities nationwide.
Robredo, Aquino, and Belmonte—often described as “good governance champions”—were among the public officials who pledged to streamline processes and closely coordinate with DepEd to speed up the delivery of much-needed classrooms.
A photo of the three was shared on social media by the Kaya Natin! Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership, captioned “Champions of Good Governance.”
Belmonte currently serves as chairperson of Kaya Natin!, while Aquino and Robredo are its board member and chairperson emeritus, respectively. Aquino also previously served as the group’s chairperson in 2017.
Robredo and Belmonte represented their respective local government units during the MOA signing, while Aquino attended as chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education.
Kaya Natin! was founded in 2007 by the late former Naga City Mayor and former Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo.
Aquino and Belmonte, together with Kaya Natin! and Mayors for Good Governance, also helped organize the People Power 40 Kick-Off Concert held at Quezon Memorial Circle on February 21.