Vico Sotto

Victor Ma. Regis "Vico" Nubla Sotto (born June 17, 1989) is a Filipino politician who is the incumbent Mayor of Pasig, Philippines.[1] Sotto first entered politics when he ran for a seat on the Pasig City Council in 2016. He won the election as an independent and served a term in the city council.[2] He joined the Aksyon Demokratiko party and ran for Mayor of Pasig in 2019 and won with a platform focused on public consultation, data-driven governance, and universal health care in Pasig, which priortizes housing programs, easier access to education, and cracking down on corruption.[3]

Not to be confused with Vic Sotto.
In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Nubla and the surname or paternal family name is Sotto.
The Honorable

Vico Sotto
Sotto speaking before students at the University of Asia and the Pacific, June 6, 2019
20th Mayor of Pasig City
Assumed office
June 30, 2019
Vice MayorIyo Christian C. Bernardo
Preceded byRobert "Bobby" Eusebio
Member of the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Pasig from the First District
In office
June 30, 2016 – June 30, 2019
Chairman of Public Relations and Information Committee
Sangguniang Panlungsod of Pasig
In office
June 30, 2016 – June 30, 2019
Personal details
Born
Victor Ma. Regis Nubla Sotto

(1989-06-17) June 17, 1989
Pasig, Metro Manila, Philippines
Political partyAksyon Demokratiko (2019–present)
Other political
affiliations		Independent (2016–2018)
Alma materAteneo de Manila University (AB, MPA)
ProfessionPolitician
Parent(s)Coney Reyes
Vic Sotto
RelativesTito Sotto (uncle)
Gian Sotto (cousin)
Ciara Sotto (cousin)
FamilyOyo Boy Sotto (half-brother)
Vicente Sotto (great-grandfather)

Early life and education

Sotto was born on June 17, 1989, to actor-comedian-host Vic Sotto and actress Coney Reyes, celebrities strongly associated with the noontime variety show Eat Bulaga!.[3] The public expected that Sotto would make regular appearances on the show. However, he preferred to maintain a low profile with an early interest in government at the age of 10.[2] Sotto attended Brent International School for most of his grade school and high school.[4] He graduated from the Ateneo de Manila University in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. Sotto later pursed a post-graduate degree in public administration at the Ateneo School of Government and graduated in 2018.[5]

Pasig City Council (2016–2019)

Sotto became a member of Sangguniang Panlungsod (City Council) of Pasig in 2016,[6] serving a single term[2] before he was sworn in as Mayor on June 30, 2019.[7]

As an independent Councilor, Sotto faced stiff opposition from his initiatives, making it difficult for him to introduce legislation. He focused his attention on "The Pasig Transparency Mechanism Ordinance," which seeks the disclosure of public records, including financial documents and contracts, upon request by ordinary citizens.[2] Upon its passage, it became the first-ever localized version of the freedom of information law in Metro Manila.[8]

Mayor of Pasig (2019–present)

2019 campaign

When Sotto ran for Mayor in Pasig in 2019, he campaigned on a platform called, "Big V" (Big Five) Agenda, which promotes universal healthcare, housing programs, education, public consultation, and anti-corruption efforts.[3]

Universal health care in Pasig

During the campaign, Sotto indicated that his top priority would be healthcare in Pasig as an anti-poverty measure. Despite the numerous health facilities in Pasig, he stressed the importance of adequately supplied medicine.[3]

Housing programs

Another priority area for Sotto was housing. He assured the public that every family living in Pasig would eventually own their own house and promised that informal settlers would not be forced to leave their homes until primary services and livelihood could be assured at the selected relocation site.[3]

Education

As part of his platform on education, Sotto pledged to make scholarships more accessible to Pasig residents by simplifying the requirements in the application process. Among the requirements he singled out for removal was the requirement that parents submit copies of their voter's registration documents while applying for Pasig City scholarships.[9] To prepare for the upcoming school opening under the 'new normal,' Mayor Sotto was able to raise P1.2 billion to provide tablets and laptops to its public school students in elementary, junior and senior high school, and their teachers.[10]

Public consultation

In response to the management style of the previous administration, Sotto also promised that all city government decisions would undergo a public consultation process. He also promised transparency in government projects, from planning to implementation, to monitoring and evaluation.[3] More specific initiatives proposed by Sotto under this agenda item include public officials appointing members on local special bodies, and forming sectoral councils in areas such as transport and environmental protection, tasked with developing legislation in those areas.[11]

Anti-corruption drive

Sotto also indicated that his administration's anti-corruption drive would begin with the establishment of a "Government Efficiency and Anti-Corruption Commission," the establishment of a Pasig City anti-corruption hotline, and assurance that a non-governmental organization or civil society organization would watch over each of the city government's bidding processes.[3]

Data-driven governance
See also: Data-driven decision-making

A key strategy Sotto pledged to use in order to achieve his five-point campaign platform was data-driven governance. On the campaign trail, he stated that one of the roots of poor public service in Pasig was the culture of "palakasan," in which citizens exerted themselves to gain the favor of public officials in order to access services.[12] Sotto's proposed solution to this problem was to ensure that decisions on the provision and prioritization of services would be based on data, rather than the political will or whims of officials.[13][14]

2019 electoral victory

Vico Sotto defeated incumbent mayor Robert Eusebio in the 2019 Pasig local elections, ending the 27-year rule of the Eusebio family over the Pasig City Mayoralty.[1] He was sworn into office on June 30, 2019.[15]

Policy against politicking

Sotto received favorable press coverage[16] when he issued a policy statement against the proliferation of political propaganda signages prior to his inauguration. A supporter had taken the occasion of Sotto's 30th Birthday on July 17th to post a tarpaulin greeting the Mayor-elect on his birthday. A few days later, Sotto went on Twitter to request that the tarpaulin be removed, and asserting that such politically-oriented signage bearing his image would be discouraged during his term.[17]

He has also made statements discouraging the "celebrity treatment" of politicians in the Philippines.[18]

Reassessment of traffic management

Sotto's first executive order upon being sworn in as Mayor was to put in place a Pasig City Traffic Management Task Force, which was tasked to "review and propose new solutions for the current mobility and traffic situation" within 45 days.[19] The same executive order abolished the Pasig City odd-even coding scheme, which the previous administration had implemented on top of the Metro Manila Development Authority's Traffic Coding Scheme - a double burden which Sotto had earlier decried as being "disjointed and unjust."[19]

Zagu Foods picket line incident

On July 9, 2019, media reports noted that Sotto had visited protesters who were being forced away from their picket line in front of the main factory of Zagu Foods Corporation in Pasig. He reminded Zagu Foods' management that the protesters were within their rights to engage in protest activities.[20][21]

Regent Foods picket line incident

In November 2019, Sotto intervened in another picket line incident - this time with Regent Foods Corporation, 23 of whose workers were arrested after they clashed with company security guards and police officers while protesting the company's labor practices. Sotto called on Regency to "rethink on the charges it filed against its employees," issuing a statement claiming that "These people are not criminals; they do not have the goal of hurting you. They are fighting for what they believe to be just." Sotto also said he was raising funds to bail out 23 arrested employees would need.[21]

In February 2020, Sotto again gained positive media reactions as a result of his efforts to crack down on illegally-operating businesses linked to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs). On February 23, Sotto ordered the closure Fu Yuan Ji, a restaurant catering to POGO employees, which opened without securing a permit from the city to operate.[22]

COVID-19 crisis response
Sotto (second from the right) attends a briefing with doctors from The Medical City in response to the coronavirus pandemic, March 20, 2020

Sotto received significant positive attention in both traditional and social media in response to Pasig's quick, data-driven responses to the 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Metro Manila, and the resulting 2020 Luzon enhanced community quarantine beginning March 17, 2020.[23][24][25]

Before the Luzon quarantine

National media outlets[23][24][26] noted that prior to the national government's imposed community quarantine in Metro Manila, Sotto's administration prepared for the coming of COVID-19 by:

  • asking experts to brief Pasig's health workers about COVID-19 cases;[24]
  • establishing and training COVID-19 response teams;[24]
  • providing a total of more than 1,000 sets of disinfecting kits to all of the Pasig's barangays;[24]
  • disinfecting public places – from the public market and public schools to even streets and sidewalks, as well as Pasig City Hall;[24]
  • consulting the management of Pasig City's private hospitals to ensure that they are prepared to accommodate more COVID-19 patients;[24] and
  • keeping Pasig constituents regularly informed about necessary precautions and updates about the situation through his official social media accounts.[24]

During the Luzon quarantine

Accounts[23][24][26] also noted that once the enhanced community quarantine put in place on March 17, the Sotto administration:

  • placed the city government on skeleton staff, in keeping with national policy, rearranging schedules so frontline government services could be sustained;[24]
  • ensured the full salaries of all city government employees;[27][28]
  • implemented a nightly 8pm to 5am curfew;[24]
  • implemented rules penalizing hoarders of essential goods;[23]
  • continued disinfecting operations in public places,[23] and procured disinfectant drones so that hard-to-reach areas could be disinfected;[29][30]
  • established sanitation tents at the Pasig City Hall, Pasig City General Hospital (PCGH), and the Pasig City Children's Hospital (Child's Hope);[23][31]
  • distributed food packs and bottles of vitamins to Pasig residents;[24]
  • arranged for the conversion of some motels within the city as quarantine facilities for COVID-19 patients;[30]
  • regularly inspected the checkpoints to make sure procedures were being followed and the rights of citizens were being respected despite the curfew;[24][26] and
  • regularly meeting the appropriate teams from The Medical City, PCGH, Child's Hope, and the City Health Office, to ensure proper coordination and the exchange of good practices in the pandemic response.[24]

Transportation initiatives during the Luzon quarantine

Sotto's administration also executed a number of transportation initiatives during the enhanced community quarantine. Most of these were generally praised, including the deployment of Pasig city's fleet of buses to service essential workers, and the lending of "Pasig Bike Share" bicycle units to health workers and other frontline personnel.[24]

One initiative that was questioned during the early days of the quarantine was that Pasig initially allowed limited motorized tricycle (tricycle) trips for people with legitimate reasons to commute, such as chemotherapy and other health issues.[23] This was done on the basis of Pasig city risk analysis, which determined that more residents would experience more severe health complications if they were deprived of transport services.[32] Sotto thus went on national media pleading to the national government that an exception be made for Pasig's tricycles, based on the studies.[33] However, on March 19, 2020, the national government informed Sotto that they insisted all forms of public transport, including tricycles, would be banned. Sotto immediately responded that Pasig would stop allowing tricycles to ply their routes.[34]

In response to media coverage of this, private companies began donating vehicles such as Community Managed Electric Transport (COMET) bus units to augment Pasig City's fleet of free rides that can be offered to the public.[35] The city was eventually able to acquire e-tricycles, which were specifically assigned to provide free transportation for Pasig City residents who had health and hospitalization needs such as dialysis or chemotherapy[36] - the residents which the risk assessment determined would be endangered by the ban on tricycles.[32][37]

Tricycle operations controversy

On March 24, the Philippine legislature passed the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act which gave national government additional powers to combat the pandemic.[38] The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) invoked the said law on April 1 against Sotto, summoning him to appear at their office on April 7, claiming that he had violated the law's provision which bans public transportation. Sotto responded by claiming that he had complied with the national government's order to stop tricycle operations prior to the enactment of the law on March 25. Senate President Tito Sotto, an uncle of the mayor and a principal author of the law in question, supported his claim.[39] Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Francis Pangilinan were among the other politicians who questioned the NBI's actions, stating the unconstitutionality of criminalizing an act committed retroactively.[40] Social media responded heavily with criticism towards the NBI for allegedly singling out the mayor, with the hashtag "#ProtectVico" trending on Twitter worldwide that day.[41]

Political affiliation

Sotto originally ran for a seat in the Pasig Sanguniang Panglungsod as an independent, and won a seat without having any party affiliation.

In 2019, Sotto was sworn in as a member of Aksyon Demokratiko, a national political party founded by former Senator Raul Roco in 1997. He was sworn into the party alongside Roman Romulo, who would also win as representative in Pasig City's sole legislative district; and Marielle del Rosario, who likewise ran as representative of Navotas City.[42] Sotto has refused to join bigger, more-established parties despite political pressure to do so,[43] explaining that he chose to join the party because he shared its platform of pushing for freedom of information, political party reform, and the end of political dynasties.[43]

Electoral history
Pasig mayoral election, 2019[44]
Party Candidate Votes %
Aksyon Vico Sotto 209,370 63.27
Nacionalista Bobby Eusebio 121,556 36.73
Total votes 330,926 100.00%

References
  1. Mercado, Neil Arwin. "Millennial Vico Sotto takes oath as Pasig City mayor". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on July 1, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  2. Carpio, Audrey. "Will Vico Sotto be Pasig's final answer?". ABS CBN News and Public Affairs. Archived from the original on April 22, 2019. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  3. Cabico, Gaea Katreena (May 6, 2019). "#IbaNaman vs continuity: Political 'payanig' in Pasig". The Philippine Star. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  4. Libarios, Gabby (September 29, 2019). "Vico Sotto: The son also rises". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  5. Sabillo, Kristine (March 14, 2020). "Change in Pasig: How Vico Sotto toppled a dynasty". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  6. Madarang, Catalina Ricci S. (October 15, 2018). "'I am not your father': Pasig City councilor Vico Sotto clarifies 'dad' tag of newspaper - Interaksyon". interaksyon.com. Archived from the original on October 15, 2018. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  7. "PEP SPECIAL REPORT. How did showbiz clans fare in #Eleksyon2016?". Philippine Entertainment Portal. May 11, 2016. Retrieved May 18, 2019.
  8. Enano, Jhesset (October 10, 2018). "Pasig passes own version of FOI bill". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved May 18, 2019.
  9. "Vico Sotto wants to simplify scholarship for Pasig students: No more extra fees!". Politiko Metro Manila. April 14, 2019. Archived from the original on April 17, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  10. "Vico Sotto says Pasig raised P1.2 billion for students' tablets, laptops". Rappler. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  11. "Sotto's pledge: I won't do a Eusebio | Inquirer News". May 16, 2019. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  12. "Q & A with Metro Manila mayors". Manila Bulletin News. June 30, 2019. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  13. "Finding Vico". Inquirer Opinion. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  14. "Transforming Metro Manila cities". Inquirer Business. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  15. Siazon, Rachelle. "Vico Sotto has the funniest tweets after winning as Pasig mayor". pep.ph. Archived from the original on July 3, 2019. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
  16. News, ABS-CBN. "Netizens laud Vico Sotto's plea to have his tarpaulin removed". Archived from the original on June 20, 2019. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
  17. Madarang, Catalina Ricci S. (June 21, 2019). "Pasig Mayor-elect Vico Sotto's first instructions before assuming office". Archived from the original on June 22, 2019. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
  18. Madarang, Catalina Ricci S. (August 26, 2019). "Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto wants the public to stop treating government officials as celebrities". Archived from the original on August 28, 2019. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  19. Laurel, Drei. "Mayor Vico Sotto's first executive order suspends odd-even coding". Top Gear Magazine. Archived from the original on July 3, 2019. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
  20. Marquez, Consuelo (July 9, 2019). "Vico Sotto to Zagu management: Respect workers' right to picket". The Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  21. Madarang, Catalina Ricci S. (November 18, 2019). "The two instances when Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto took the side of his constituents against big companies". interaksyon. Archived from the original on November 19, 2019. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  22. Malasig, Jeline (February 24, 2020). "Vico Sotto gives teeth to city laws vs unregistered Chinese resto". Archived from the original on February 25, 2020. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  23. Malasig, Jeline (March 18, 2020). "Vico Sotto has been stellar with his proactive COVID-19 initiatives, and Filipinos want him to lead the whole country". Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  24. Gotinga, J. C. (March 21, 2020). "Vico Sotto: I will always just do what I believe is right". Rappler. Archived from the original on March 21, 2020. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  25. Galang, Jelou (March 20, 2020). "Empathy with action is Mayor Vico Sotto's winning combo". Scout Magazine. Archived from the original on March 21, 2020.
  26. Abellon, Bam. "Here's everything that Mayor Vico Sotto has done so far in response to COVID-19". Archived from the original on March 20, 2020. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  27. News, ABS-CBN. "All Pasig employees to get full pay during COVID-19 quarantine: Vico Sotto". Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  28. Gotinga, J. C. "Vico Sotto vows full salaries for all Pasig government workers during lockdown". Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  29. "Pasig City procures disinfectant drones to fight COVID-19". Top Gear Philippines. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  30. "Pasig buys disinfection drones, turns motels to quarantine and staff lodging: Vico Sotto". Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  31. "LOOK: Sanitation tents installed in Pasig City hall, public hospitals". ABS CBN News and Public Affairs. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  32. Nievera, Allysa (March 18, 2020). "Mayor Sotto says total ban on tricycles in Pasig adds risk to health situation".
  33. Gotinga, J. C. "Vico Sotto urges nat'l gov't to allow tricycles during coronavirus lockdown". Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  34. "Vico Sotto: Pasig to follow nat'l gov't on tricycles ban". Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  35. "Tricycles not allowed, Pasig gets creative by deploying these electric vehicles". March 20, 2020. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  36. Laurel, Drei. "Pasig City offers free transport for those in need of dialysis, chemotherapy". Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  37. Canoy, Jeff (March 18, 2020). "Vico Sotto umapelang payagang bumiyahe ang tricycle drivers sa Pasig". ABS CBN News and Public Affairs (in Tagalog). Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  38. Madarang, Catalina Ricci S. (March 26, 2020). "The 'Bayanihan to Heal as One Act' and what's at stake in the law". InterAksyon. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  39. Rey, Aika. "Tito Sotto 'defends' Vico: 'Violation of Bayanihan law can't be retroactive'". Rappler. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  40. "NBI asks Vico Sotto to explain 'violation' of quarantine policy". CNN Philippines. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  41. "Vico Sotto 'confident nothing will happen' in NBI probe". ABS-CBN News. April 5, 2020. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  42. Lalu, Gabriel Pabico. "Aksyon Demokratiko endorses 9 senatorial bets". Archived from the original on February 4, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  43. Reysio-Cruz, Matthew (June 3, 2019). "Vico Sotto: We need to go beyond yellow vs DDS". The Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  44. https://ph.rappler.com/elections/2019/local/region/METRO-MANILA/PASIG-CITY/
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