By Benjamin Cuaresma
NAGA CITY — Mayor Leni Robredo is pushing Naga City into the national spotlight as a rising center for innovation and digital governance through the upcoming ClickConEx 2026 convention this June.
The three-day gathering, set from June 19 to 21 at the Heart for Good Governance, is expected to bring together more than 500 delegates from across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, including government officials, business executives, startup founders, technology leaders, investors, and academics.
Dubbed as one of the city government’s flagship initiatives, ClickConEx aims to strengthen partnerships between government and the private sector to develop modern solutions for public services, economic growth, and community development.
Robredo said innovation should not remain limited to corporations and technology firms, stressing that digital tools and collaboration must directly improve the lives of ordinary Filipinos.
“Progress becomes meaningful when government, business, and schools work together for the people,” the mayor said.
The convention will revolve around Naga City’s “2028 Finish Lines” program — an eight-point governance roadmap focused on economic growth, disaster resilience, healthcare, education, public safety, cultural preservation, transparency, and more efficient local governance.
Among those expected to attend are mayors, cabinet officials, national agency representatives, ICT executives, startup innovators, researchers, and development organizations.
Since assuming office in 2025 as Naga City’s first female mayor, Robredo has intensified efforts to modernize governance through technology-driven programs and citizen-focused reforms.
Naga recently gained international attention after Robredo was invited to speak at the Yushan Forum and the Smart Cities Summit and Expo in Taipei earlier this year, where the city’s MyNaga App and digital governance programs were showcased before a global audience.
City officials said the administration hopes Naga’s digital governance model can eventually be replicated by other local government units nationwide.
ia/xf
