Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero (left), Leni Robredo (Facebook, MANILA BULLETIN)

Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero just did aspiring Naga City mayor and fellow Bicolano Leni Robredo a huge favor. 

The former vice president was in Escudero's native of Sorsogon recently on the occasion of the 50th Kasanggayahan Festival. 

Escudero, a former provincial governor, helped Robredo make the most of her short stay by personally driving her during an impromptu tour of Sorsogon City. But there was more to the tour for Robredo than just sightseeing--there was also benchmarking 

Escudero said he was more than willing to show Robredo the best of what Sorsogon had to offer given how much work he and the entire province has put in to transform itself into one of the most progressive localities in the country. 

“Nag-benchmarking siya nang kaunti dahil kung mananalo siya bilang mayor, nais niyang dalhin ‘yung kanyang city officials para mag-benchmarking sa city of Sorsogon gayundin sa province of Sorsogon," the Senate President said of Robredo. 

(She did some benchmarking because if she wins as mayor, she wants to bring city officials over to do benchmarking in the city of Sorsogon as well as the province of Sorsogon.) 

Kaya sinamahan ko siyang i-tour ang aming kapitolyo, ‘yung aming museum, ‘yung aming People’s Mansion at gayundin ‘yung aming PDRRMO (Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office),” Escudero said. 

(That why I accompanied her in a tour of our capitol, our museum, our People’s Mansion and also our PDRRMO.) 

Under Escudero’s watch as governor, he has successfully secured the ISO Certification of the Provincial Government and has made Sorsogon home to the greatest number of ISO-certified local government units in the country. 

The Capitol building of Sorsogon is a 107-year-old neoclassical design building that was renovated and restored as a showcase of the identity of the province. 

Close by is the Museo Sorsogon, the former provincial jail and courthouse that was transformed and repurposed into the home of history and culture of the province. 

The Sorsogon Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, on the other hand, has been provided with modern equipment, including the institution of a 911 hotline to allow the local government to respond faster and more efficiently to disasters and other emergencies. 

The latest infrastructure project completed in the province, the Sorsogon Sports Arena, was unveiled and inaugurated by President Marcos during this year’s Kasanggayahan Festival. 

Housed within the 7.1-hectare Sorsogon Sports Complex in Sorsogon City, the arena was patterned after the Colosseum in Rome and is equipped with facilities that make it viable for international competitions and training camp. 

“Napag-usapan namin ang pagiging benchmark ng Sorsogon, hindi lamang sa Bicol region kundi sa buong Pilipinas na rin," Escudero said. 

(We discussed Sorsogon's status as benchmark, not only in the Bicol region, but in the entire Philippines.) 

"Sinabi namin na willing kaming ibahagi ang aming karanasan para pag-pulutan ng aral ng ibang mga lalawigan, ng ibang mga lugar sa ating bansa para hindi na nila mapagdaan ‘yung mga pagkakamaling pinagdaanan namin at ‘yung mga pagsubok na pinagdaanan namin,” he further said. 

(We said that we were willing to share our experiences so that other providers may learn from them, even the other areas in the country so that they won't have to go through the same mistakes and challenges that we did.)