The Man Dedicated to Transform a City

A ROBUST POLITICAL WILL, AN EMPOWERING ADMINISTRATION, AND A STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE FORM THE FOUNDATION OF MAYOR ARTHUR B. ROBES’ VISION FOR TRANSFORMING HIS CHERISHED CITY INTO A VIBRANT METROPOLITAN HUB. UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP, THE CITY IS NOT ONLY ATTRACTING TOURISTS BUT ALSO BOASTING WORLD-CLASS FACILITIES AND EXCEPTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL ITS RESIDENTS.

To shape the city into a model of progress and pride—one that will inspire and flourish for the next century.” This, in a nutshell, is what City of San Jose del Monte Mayor Arthur B. Robes wanted to achieve when he first assumed office in 2016. The limited time he had did not dampen his desire to transform the city. After all, he had a vision that extended beyond nine years.

BUILT ON A SOLID FOUNDATION

Mayor Art, as Robes is fondly known among his peers and constituents, built his political career from the ground up, mastering the intricacies of governance at every level. From serving as a councilor and vice mayor to earning a seat in Congress in 2007, his journey reflects a deep understanding of public service. Now, as city mayor, he continues to reimagine the city’s future, transforming it into a vibrant destination for visitors from across the nation.

The mayor traces his heart for public service to his family's long involvement in serving their fellow San Joseños. “Our family is really politically inclined. My grandfather served as mayor of San Jose while my uncle and father were also elected as barangay captain and councilor,” he reveals.

“As a child, I was my dad’s favorite. Whenever there was a meeting or an errand he had to attend to, I was always by his side. The desire to serve the public probably started to grow from there,” he shares.

Seeing how helping the people had become part of their family's way of life, Robes embraced it as his own, too.

Today, Robes continues to serve his constituents alongside his wife, Congresswoman Florida Perez Robes. Herself also a seasoned public servant, the lady solon stands as both the mayor's partner in governance and a steadfast source of support. Their shared dedication to public service forms the bedrock of his vision for San Jose del Monte, with Congresswoman Robes providing not only political insight but also unwavering confidence in his mission to advance the city’s growth and development.

"When I was a congressman, she was my chief of staff so she really knew how things are done in Congress," Robes shares. "After I finished my congressional term and I decided to run for mayor, I said to myself that I needed my successor to continue what I had started. So that’s the time I asked her ‘Mommy, will you be my congresswoman? So that in the event we both win, we’ll be able to maximize our performance.'"

“That’s where our partnership as elected public servants really started,” Robes explains. “She knew what I planned on doing, and she aligned her efforts to such. So with me as local chief executive and her as district representative, we thought of the best ways to help and provide services to our constituents.” The two leaders' coordinated efforts including working on the national and local budget and making sure that projects are properly implemented boosted efforts to improve the City of San Jose del Monte.

EARNING THE SEAL OF GOOD LOCAL GOVERNANCE

With Robes at the helm, the City of San Jose del Monte has been awarded the Seal of Good Local Governance five times, the last being in 2023. This award is given to provincial, city, and municipal governments that promote integrity and good performance that contribute to the pursuit of meaningful local autonomy and development.

Asked about his view on receiving the award multiple times, Robes credits his employees as the main reason for receiving such recognition. “The award is a recognition of the efforts not only of me as the local chief executive but of all the employees of the city government who are really working hard for our city administration to get that trophy. That is why since then, we have been receiving the award. And I am very thankful of course to the Lord and to our employees for being very supportive of our goal to be an awardee every year.”

He stresses that the award gives credibility to him and his team for the hard work and dedication to serving the people and the city. “Awards like this from the national government give you a feeling of fulfilment as a leader because you are recognized as a performer who is able to render excellent service; you are given recognition for achievements,” he says.

At the same time, the award is also a challenge for them to continue rendering quality public service. Though the criteria for the award becomes more challenging each year, Robes is confident in his administration’s ability to rise up to the challenge. “The SGLG requirements get harder and harder. More and more criteria and requirements to earn that award are added. But so far, so good,” he proclaims.

BUILDING A TOURIST-FRIENDLY CITY

As part of his long-term plans for the city, Robes envisions it as the country's next major tourist destination.” What used to be a relocation site for Metro Manila residents uprooted from their communities is now slowly transforming into an urban sightseeing spot for local tourists.

“I put an end to the acceptance of relocatees and we started transforming San Jose del Monte. And we tagged San Jose del Monte as the next rising city—from relocation site to new destination,” he proudly declares.

“So we studied everything. We improved the roads, we added more sidewalks because we want the city to be walkable. We also changed the streetlights and our facilities. And since my wife is the congresswoman, we also able to tap funds from the national government.”

Some of the planned infrastructure include a river esplanade, road networks connecting to local resorts and popular churches, and new museums showcasing the city's history.

“Of course we’ve preparing for the future. First of all, we’re developing a 7.9 kilometer-long river esplanade that will become a commercial area with parks and a playground for the public,” Robes explains.

“And at the same time, we also have our churches. One of these is the Grotto Church which is similar to the Lourdes Church in France that people from around the world flock to. In time, San Jose del Monte will be tagged as a “Pilgrimage City,” Robes proclaims. Within the city are other famous sites such as the Padre Pio Mountain of Healing, the Saint Joseph the Worker Parish (one of the oldest in Bulacan), and it is also home to Rev. Father Fidel Laura, the famous healing priest.

Robes hopes to turn the city into a pilgrimage site for devotees like himself. No longer will citizens have to travel far to achieve spiritual connection. People from Metro Manila and other surrounding areas are also expected to gather once the infrastructure projects are completed and promotional activities for the new “Pilgrimage City” go full blast.

ENSURING IMPROVED SERVICES

San Jose del Monte's newly built city hall has made possible various improvements in providing public services to the people. The four-month old building has become a onestop shop for the public.

“This city hall has only been open for a few months but people are already coming because they can see how beautiful and convenient it is,” says Robes. “This will be the center of transactions for the government of the City of San Jose del Monte. As a one-stop shop, it provides real convenience for the people. We’re also going to build a financial center building that the townspeople can go to.”

Aside from aesthetics and convenience, Robes puts a premium on the quality of infrastructure being built in the city, as he wants to make sure that the city's new buildings, roads, and other structures last for the next few decades.

CONNECTING SAN JOSE DEL MONTE TO METRO MANILA VIA THE MRT-7

Along with new commercial buildings and tourist attractions, Robes is also investing in developing the city’s transportation system. Road widening, expansion, and connection plans are ongoing as a way to make travel easier on the public. The biggest development related to this is the new MRT-7.

“We welcome San Miguel Corporation and we’re very thankful to San Miguel Corporation for coming up with this MRT7,” says Robes. Part of the MRT-7 plan is to have its end station in San Jose del Monte. “During our last meeting with San Miguel, we came up with the area for the end station. We just haven’t publicized it because we’re still negotiating with the property owners. We’ve already approved the options presented to us so now it’s up to San Miguel to negotiate with the property owners.”

The proposed train station will connect Bulacan to Metro Manila via elevated railway, cutting down the travel time significantly. “The San Jose del Monte City government is fully supportive of the project and we are working hand in hand with San Miguel to optimize the construction of the end station for MRT-7,” he declares.

BALANCING ACT AND FUTURE POLITICAL PLANS

With so many plans for his city, balancing time for his family and private affairs can be challenging for Robes. His dedication to public service and good governance often takes center stage in his life but somehow, he still carves out time for his family.

“Sunday is usually for the family. I don’t usually accept invitations on Sunday because it’s for my children and wife. Even Saturdays are normally reserved for dinner with my kids, my nieces and nephews, my wife’s sister, and our friends. Sunday really is our family day,” he explains.

Spending time with his family on weekends, scheduling occasional out-of-town trips, and tending to his farm and business ventures keep the mayor balanced and grounded amidst the demands of public service. “I also go to the farm. We have a small farm that I inherited from my father. I enjoy farming—it’s my outlet and hobby. I have cows, chickens, sheep, and goats,” he fondly explains.

Having inherited his love of public service from his father, one might expect Robes to want his children to join politics someday. Surprisingly, he wishes the opposite for them.

“As much as possible I don’t want my children entering politics because it’s such a hard career. There are times you won’t have time for yourself, for your family,” he explains. “I would rather they have a simple and quiet life outside the political spotlight. But you can never tell. Even though I started with no ambitions in the public arena, I ended up having a long career in politics. So deep down I know at least one of my children will also become a public servant. That’s what they see and that’s what they’ve grown up with.”

Robes cites his transformation of the City of San Jose del Monte from a relocation site to a progressive urban city as his lasting legacy as three-term mayor. “We’re very proud that people say we have really transformed San Jose del Monte. And you can see that it’s now one of the most progressive cities in the country, especially in the province of Bulacan. And we’re very proud of that," he exclaims. Speaking of the future, Robes is confident that with his track record and vision, he will be given a chance to continuing serving his constituents, this time as their district representative in Congress.

WE’RE HAPPY THAT PEOPLE CAN SAY THAT DURING OUR ADMINISTRATION WE CHANGED A LOT FOR THE BETTER. WE WON’T BE HERE FOREVER SO WE WANTED TO MAKE A LASTING IMPACT AND POSITIVE CHANGE DURING OUR TERM.