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First Lady Mayor, Role Model for People-Center Decision Making
SALLY Ante Lee is the first mayor of Sorsogon City, Philippines; yet, her achievement enlightens in the way that she has encouraged bottom-up decision making and citizen-centered policy making. Mayor Sally, an accounting graduate with certified public accountant degree holder has been exposed to politics since 1970s. However, her option for leading the city came up in 2001, when she was eventually proclaimed the winning candidate and became Mayor of Sorsogon in 14 May. It not only marked a new chapter for her, but also for the city as she was the first lady mayor in the history of the city firstly established as a political unit in 1894. Throughout her leadership, she developed programmes for the city and local people, which reflect her understanding on leadership in the city: putting her citizens’ needs as the heart of the policy making and decision making process. Her programme ranges from transforming Sorsogon into a progressive and clean city for its local people, restoring a culture of dignity which includes the Character First Development Program, Project SERVE (bringing basic services to the barangays) and integrated health services. Moreover, aiming at developing the city, she also made network and linkage with international and national agencies and funding institutions to attract investment and positive promotion for the city. Mayor Sally Ante Lee is inspiring not only in Sorsogon, the Phillipines, but also beyond. She has actively contributed as speaker in the international forum. The most recent event she contributed in is the 7th UCLG ASPAC
Congress “Innovation Driven Development for Sustainable Cities” at Plenary Session 4 – Financing for Local Development. The event was attended by more than 1200 participants from within Asia-Pacific and beyond.