Former Vice President and now Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo admitted that her current role as local chief executive is far more demanding compared to her six-year stint as the country’s second-highest official.
In an interview, Robredo explained the stark difference in scope and responsibility between the two positions. She noted that the Vice President’s primary mandate is to prepare for succession should anything happen to the President.
Although she expanded her role through the Angat Buhay program during her vice presidency, Robredo said the work at the national level was more predictable compared to the daily challenges of local governance.
“‘Yung klase ng trabahong gusto kong gawin, ito ‘yung trabaho ng mayor,” she said.
“‘Yung local walang pahinga eh. Kahit may sakit ako, hindi rin nagpapahinga kasi maraming inaasikaso lagi… very challenging ang trabaho,” she added.
Robredo shared that as mayor, she must deal with all kinds of issues—big or small—including neighborhood disputes, broken street lights, and even problems with animal waste on the streets.
“Pagiging mayor, araw-araw iba ‘yung problema. Hindi ka puwede mamimili na ito lang ‘yung gusto kong gawin,” she said.
Her remarks highlight the breadth of responsibilities faced by local leaders, who are expected to respond directly to the immediate concerns of their constituents.