A fresh face in the political arena, the young and vibrant Vico Sotto, a first-term city councilor at just 28, smashed through the enormous walls by unseating long-time Pasig City Mayor Robert “Bobby” Eusebio, putting an end to the Eusebios decades-old reign in the city.
The son of ace comedian Vic Sotto and seasoned actress Coney Reyes, Vico fondly reminisced that his passion for public service ignited as early as 10.
“Then, when I went to college and graduated, I just wanted to work in the government or related to governance. I was given the opportunities until I got here,” said Vico, a political science graduate from Ateneo de Manila University with a master’s degree in public management at the Ateneo School of Government.
Vico said that Kuya LA, his older brother from his mother’s side, influenced him to join public service.
“Not actually idolizing him, but it’s interesting because the person who had the biggest influence on me to enter the government is actually not in the government,” he said.
His Kuya Ely, who was 11 years older than him, gave Vico an assignment to memorize some provisions of the Philippine Constitution.
“When I was kid, he gave me an assignment to read Article 6 of the Constitution, and then when he gets home, he will test me if I really read it,” Vico said. “Then we have a game that he just made up, games that design cities, so I became interested in urban planning and governance. So, since I was a child, that really seemed to be my interest.”
Vico is the great-grandson of former Senator Vicente Yap Sotto and nephew of former Senate President and TV host Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.
“But in my immediate family, no one is in politics,” he said.
Vico, now 34, emphasized the city’s transformation through clean governance, caring healthcare, and enlightening education by initiating reforms in planning, procurement, and city cleanliness from the get-go.
Healthcare is on the path to universal coverage, and education stands tall as a key focus.
He said these three priorities, on top of many others, drive the city’s progress.
Highlighting the city’s commitment to education by increasing funding for scholarships, particularly for underprivileged students, he said the local government currently supports over 25,000 scholars.
In addition to the standard scholarships covering tuition from Grade 4 through college, the city offers the PAG-ASA Scholarship Program in collaboration with Arellano University and Pasig Catholic College, providing college students the opportunity to pursue their studies in private institutions at no cost.
“We shoulder the entire tuition fee plus an allowance for nursing students. Right now, they are around 300 scholars, but our target is 2,000 to 3,000,” Vico said, adding that an assistance center has been put up.
“In my first term, we established the Social Welfare Assistance Center to make sure that we offer social services in a way that is efficient, timely, and in a way that the constituents or the people who need help will not have a hard time,” he said.
Social services extend beyond monetary aid; the city’s Social Welfare and Development department also supports forsaken and neglected senior citizens, offering hope and care to those who need it most.
“We opened the Kanlungan sa Pasig in Nagpayong. It’s a one-stop shop service for teenage pregnancies, children in conflict with the law, and abandoned senior citizens, among others,” Vico said. “The capacity is the problem, but we try to upgrade these services as always.”
Vico is bent on upgrading healthcare in the city. He’s big on digital records for faster, better care at health centers. Next up: linking this tech to hospitals. While they’re not fully there yet, the city’s health centers are already digitally connected, besides boosting the quality of medical facilities citywide.
“Just recently, we inaugurated the supply building of the Pasig City General Hospital, including other facilities such as the hemodialysis unit and the laundry building of the hospital. We are also in the process of upgrading the Pasig City Children’s Hospital. We will convert it into a general hospital to accommodate more patients.”
People’s participation
Enjoining public participation in governance, he activated the city development council in 2020 despite pandemic challenges, enhancing participation quality. Notably, the local youth development council has transitioned from exclusive selection to open participation, fostering increased activity and momentum.
In his leadership, Vico champions the power of citizen feedback, urging individuals to speak up about their grievances.
Acknowledging the imperfections of governance, he values openness to criticism. Initiatives like Ugnayan sa Pasig and engaging the city development council reflect his commitment to amplifying every voice and fostering a culture where feedback is treasured.
“It’s not that we’re looking for complaints, but we’re open [for it]. I’m not saying everything I do is right or our government is flawless. There’s no such thing as perfect government, no perfect LGU, but the important thing is that we are open to criticism, meaning if I’m wrong, you can tell it, and you will not be scolded.”
Peace and order
He acknowledged the significant challenge of maintaining peace and order in urban areas like Pasig, which is surrounded by neighboring cities like Quezon City, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Taguig, Cainta and Rizal.
“It’s a big challenge because the city’s layout is in the middle of other cities. We lack uniformed personnel. I know that the PNP IS recruiting more policemen, but we must admit it’s a bit lacking.”
It’s not a reason, though, to be lax. The city’s peace and order department is a shield bolstering the police force.
Vico’s support for barangays’ security forces underscores their role as frontline guardians. Despite the hurdles, Vico pointed to a bright spot: the city’s index crimes are on a favorable trajectory, signaling strides in upholding peace and order.
“Of course, we fully support our policemen. We recently gave them the equipment they needed and allowances for them.”
Habitable relocation sites
Addressing long-standing land and housing issues also focuses on assisting landless families.
In its ongoing efforts to resolve housing problems for approximately 3,000 informal settler families along the west bank of the floodway, he said the city government is negotiating to acquire a significant land parcel for a housing development catering to homeless families, prioritizing those in hazardous areas.
While likely to feature mid-rise buildings that will take some time, he said it is vital to ensure habitable relocation sites and access to essential services like electricity, clean water, schools, medical facilities, and job opportunities — a fundamental principle in his housing policy.
He admits that the primary challenge in housing policy is ensuring that the new site must be livable before any demolition and relocation. This entails access to electricity, clean water, proximity to schools, medical services, and job opportunities.
“If the demolition needs to be done, it should be done humanely.”
Business-friendly
Vico takes pride in the 2022 Pasig City recognition by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry as one of the Most Business-Friendly local government units Level 1A under the Highly Urbanized City category.
“Maybe that’s proof, and we’re very proud that we’re taking many steps to make our city business-friendly. We have to remember that businesses provide us with the city’s income. Of the money we use for all services, 50 percent comes from business tax. So, it is our duty to make sure that it is easy for them to do business.”
Nonetheless, he said the city government has streamlined business permit processes by introducing unified forms. It has set up city hall annexes at Ayala Malls the 30th and Robinsons Metro East Mall to enhance residents’ accessibility to government services.
Although there is an abundance of beneficial laws concerning environmental protection within the government, he said the critical challenge lies in ensuring their actual implementation.
Shifting perspectives
In transportation, Vico emphasized the necessity of shifting perspectives to prioritize citizens’ mobility, citing it as a critical factor contributing to traffic congestion in Metro Manila.
He highlighted the challenges of poor city planning and inadequate implementation, often exacerbated by zoning exemptions granted to acquaintances.
To address these issues, the city government established an integrated information technology system in 2023, facilitating seamless communication between departments and enhancing project planning and execution.
‘I can confidently declare that the rampant corruption from before has vanished. That’s the legacy I aim to leave.’
The IT system, he said, enables departments to collect and share data efficiently, incorporating features like mapping for flood control, traffic management, and other government services, ultimately improving inter-departmental communication.
Regular jobs for the tenured
Vico said the LGU’s goal for 2024 is to regularize all local government employees with at least three years of service, providing deserved benefits to thousands of employees within the constraints of regulations and available funds.
“When I entered government, I found that a city hall employee had not been regularized for 43 years. We don’t talk about politics; it’s actually a big thing for Vico claimed that his major triumph was in the battle against corruption.
“I can confidently declare that the rampant corruption from before has vanished. That’s the legacy I aim to leave,” he said.
He believes that enhancing institutional strength through mechanisms like transparency and accountability is crucial in the fight against corruption.
Kind heart, competence
Vico offered a piece of his mind to aspiring young leaders, emphasizing the importance of readiness and competence.
“Be prepared. It’s not enough to have a good heart; you need to become competent. If you have a good heart and are not competent, you don’t know what you’re doing. Very easily will end up the wrong path even with good intentions.”
“Surround yourself with people who share similar principles, values, and beliefs.”
Time, greatest sacrifice
In order to achieve great things, he said, you have to make great sacrifices.
“Time was indeed the greatest sacrifice, especially in 2018 when I was just 29,” he reflected.
When asked about his future aspirations in five years, he said: “In one way or another, I will remain involved in non-government organization work, perhaps in LGU work.”
Before becoming a city councilor of Pasig, Vico, who engaged in government monitoring and civil society work at a non-governmental organization, expressed his desire to educate students on public policy and government-related topics once he transitioned from his role as an elected government official.
“If I get a chance, I also want to teach. I want to be an instrument that will help equip the next generation.”