ANNOUNCEMENT MEMORANDUM

MANILA MEDIA BUREAU
Office of the Mayor
2/F Press Office, Manila City Hall, 
Manila City
Tel No: 527 4877

 MANILA UNDER LIM’S SECOND MAYORSHIP  

            Having served the City of Manila first in 1992 before joining the Philippine Senate, Mayor Alfredo S. Lim is fortunate to know firsthand what the city needs most and from there formulate his eleven priority agenda accordingly. 

            When Mayor Lim re-joined the city in July 2007, the city treasury that he inherited was in a negative cash position with a whopping deficit of P1.8 billion enough to dampen his will to deliver the basic needs of his constituents.  

            His credibility and integrity in government office enabled him to receive numerous donations from various kind-hearted sectors that covered the financial requirements (including donations from PAGCOR and PCSO) for such basic services to the city’s residents. 

            His first contribution to the city, upon his return to the office, was the creation of the satellite offices in the six districts to bring City Hall's services closer to the constituents and reduce the queues at City Hall from those getting birth, death and marriage certificates.  

            He also institutionalized the regular Friday People's Day as his way of opening the doors of City Hall to the complaints, concerns and suggestions coming from Manila residents.  During the regular Friday People's Day, the Mayor allots one or two hours per district to listen to his people. 

            His top three priorities (out of 11 priority programs) —education, health care and peace and order—naturally took the topmost attention, concern and whatever little resources the Mayor could muster. But donors responded with the same fervor and urgency of Mayor Lim. 

For education, the Mayor ordered the immediate renovation of fragile school buildings to make them safe and conducive for use by elementary and high school students. Along this line, he doubled the revolving funds of school principals to P40,000/month so that, at their level, they could pursue repair and maintenance works without having to go through the central office.  

Tertiary institutions like Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila and the City College of Manila received P50 million as additional funding to ensure that they can give quality education to more college students.  

The Mayor also ordered the principals and school teachers not to add to the financial burdens of their students and their families through donations and other petty expenses. He banned all kinds of donations, JS Proms and even made the entrance examinations to the City College of Manila, free of charge despite the school board’s resolution imposing entrance examination fees. 

The Mayor also distributed school bags with school supplies to elementary students so that they would be better equipped for school.  

He turned over to the Manila-Manitoba (Canada) Educational Center one dozen computer sets donated by Canadian Prime Minister Gary Doer last Dec. 15, 2008 in simple rites held at the Jose Rizal Elementary School in Tayuman, Sta. Cruz. The PCs which will be connected to the internet will expand the learning sphere of students. 

He also turned over 184 Personal computers with printers to 32 city high schools to upgrade their technological capabilities. The turnover was held at the Araullo High School along U.N. Avenue. 

He also inaugurated a new 3-storey building for the F. Balagtas Elementary School with 12 classrooms, which replaces the old building that previously burned down. He inaugurated a lot of newly-renovated and newly-built school buildings in 2008. 

For children before pre-school age, the Mayor vowed to provide day-care centers in all barangays of the city, especially in the 30-percent depressed barangays that do not have such facilities for the children. In fact, he inaugurated last Sept. 11, 2008 two mobile day-care centers that the United Nations Children’s Fund donated to the city. 

In health care, the Mayor launched the Health Education Reform Order (HERO) project to strengthen the health curriculum in all schools and among health professions to make them more responsive to the needs of the people. 

         The Mayor, citing the importance of a healthy population to national development, said caring for the health of the citizens is one clear example of government’s concern for the country’s welfare. The HERO project is with the collaboration of Dr. Tony Leachon of the Philippine College of Physicians and of Pfizer Philippines, Dr. Gina Nazareth of the Philippine Medical Association, City Health Superintendent Dra. Lorraine Sanchez. 

         “If the promotion and maintenance of health, as a policy of the state, is emphasized to the public through basic education from elementary to college and if healthcare professionals can be influenced in the academic institutions to understand and contribute more, the state may be able to promote a healthier society in a cost-effective way,” the Mayor said. 

            The Mayor also gave away 50 wheelchairs to city residents who had mobility problems due to failing health or other diseases. The wheelchairs were donated by civic organizations and NGOs. Another 100 wheelchairs were donated by the UP-PGH medical fraternity to the Mayor late last year, which he is distributing now to deserving indigent recipients. 

            The City offered free cataract surgery at four city run hospitals for Manilans in collaboration with the Philippine Academy Medical Specialist, (PAMS) which benefited 400 indigent patients. Another free cataract removal was held at the Hospital of Infant Jesus in Laon–Laan, Sampaloc in collaboration with Rotary Club of Manila in 2008. The Mayor reopened the AIDS clinic at the Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center in commemorating World AIDS day.  

            He obtained 50 pieces of wheelchairs that were donated by the Taiwan Economic Cooperation Office under Donald C..T. Lee, which he distributed to indigent residents. Another 200 wheelchairs were donated by the Phi Kappa Mu fraternity of UP-PGH College of Medicine in addition to 50 wheelchairs the fraternity donated in 2008.           

            The Mayor received nine boxes of medicine [metronidazole injection USP (0.5% w/v)] worth P 300,000 from the Rotary Club of Makati – Urdaneta. for the indigent patients of 4 city- run hospitals. He also got 119 boxes of assorted medical supplies donated by the 3P Foundation (USA) headed by its chairman Armando De Rossi.  Medical supplies, equipments, and surgical instruments were donations of the citizens of the USA. The Rotary Club of Manila donated four dialysis machines while Congressman Jaime Lopez of District 2 gave P200,000 cash to ensure the treatment and maintenance medicines to be given free to Manila residents. 

            For 2009, the Mayor is expected to open another city hospital, this time to service residents of Binondo, San Nicolas, Quiapo and Sta. Cruz and by 2010 another hospital in District 8 for the residents of Sta. Ana, Pandacan, San Miguel and Sta. Mesa. His goal is to have one city hospital in each of the six districts. 

            He was also fortunate to receive three ambulances from the Taiwan Economic Cooperation Office (along with two fire trucks for use of the Tanduay Fire Station in Recto and Legarda Street) which will be given to Ospital ng Tondo, Ospital ng Sampaloc and Gat Andres Memorial Medical Center.. He also vowed to put up three more hospitals so that each of the six districts will have their own hospitals. 

            On peace and order, the Mayor  bought 20 new mobile patrol cars and received 60 new cars from the Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the number of patrol cars kept increasing throughout the year because of generous donations from various groups.  

    In fact, the Manila Police District was able to upgrade its communication and surveillance capability with the installation of closed circuit televisions in major intersections and installation of global positioning system (GPS) in their patrol cars and motorcycle units.  

    But the Mayor, a firm believer in human superiority, directed Manila Police District Chief Superintendent Gen. Roberto Rosales to revive the beat patrols and return the practice of daily police formations to make the cops aware of the cases filed the night before.  

    He also directed Rosales to augment the 207 traffic cops at the traffic bureau by another 100 and to deploy all 38 motorcycle cops to the major intersections during rush hours of 7 to 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 to 7 p.m. 

            Mayor Lim also ordered the immediate adoption of three shifts (of 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.; 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. and 11 p.m. to 7 a.m..) so that the cops will have time for their families. But he said that policemen must make sure to be on standby in cases of emergencies.  

            To be fair to the cops serving the city, he ordered that those detailed or assigned elsewhere be removed from those entitled to get the P2, 500 monthly allowance as they are not rendering services to the residents and constituents. 

            He reiterated his no-vendor policy in all parts of the city so that pedestrians and motorists could use the road. He also asked the cops to revive the Manila’s Finest tradition of not just maintaining law and order but also added service to the people by bringing a pregnant woman to the hospital or giving information of locations to those who seem to be lost in the city.
            To protect the cops from undue harassment, he ordered the City Legal Office’s 22 lawyers to be always available to assist them in charges that they encounter in line of duty. 

            He ordered the lighting of major roads, bridges, thoroughfares, plazas and parks and in particular the lighting of dark streets in Tondo, Manila where frequent holdups and crimes were committed. He asked the City Electrician to coordinate with Manila Electric Company the replacement of all 75 watt bulbs on city roads to be changed to 200 watts to more effectively protect the citizens from criminals. 

            The elderly or senior citizens are Mayor Lim’s major personal concern. He reaches out to them and gives them whatever they need out of gratitude for the caring that they gave to the current citizens of Manila. He directed city’s Department of Social Welfare (DSW), under OIC Jay de la Fuente, to compute the cost of feeding the senior citizens and providing them with board games and other entertainment at the satellite offices every week. 

            The Mayor said “the elderly deserve a better treatment from us since they were the ones who reared us and took care of our needs in our youth” so in their twilight years “it is but fitting for us to show our gratitude to them..” 

            The satellite offices, or mini city halls in the six districts, were ordered to  inform the senior citizens of the activities they have lined up for them each week such as chess and other board games, television and even sports plus the feeding program (breakfast, lunch and merienda and dinner that awaits them at the satellite offices each week. 

            Other social services that the city offered to its constituency were: free cremation at the Manila North Cemetery; P350,000 livelihood capital assistance for the unemployed, underemployed and those who want to get into micro businesses with loans of from P1,000 to P5,000 advanced by the city government; the holding of the First Mega Jobs Fair at the Gat Andres Bonifacio Shrine where 50 companies with over 3,000 vacant positions followed by another at the San Andres Complex and at Far Eastern University last Dec. 5, 2008 in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment National Capital Region office; the city built a lot of playgrounds including the newly-inaugurated Baseco playground and the distribution of ID cards for disabled to 500 Manilas that entitle them to 20 percent discounts.  

These are just a few of the achievements of Mayor Lim in his top three priority programs.   

Considering that when Mayor Lim returned to City Hall, he inherited a negative cash position or a deficit of P1.8 billion, which is enough for any LGU head to just sit and wait for funds to come in before embarking on any program. But not Mayor Lim. His numerous friends and kindhearted people and institutions who believed in him, his sincerity and his leadership came with their “gifts for the people.” 

In one year, the City Treasury was able to improve its tax collection that gave it a position to grant its employees a Christmas bonus and rice subsidy for the Christmas season last December 2008.  

          He increased the salaries of city employees by 10 percent and added P500 to the financial assistance allowance or from P 2,000 to P 2,500 per month.  

            And, under the Mayor’s guidance, the erstwhile decrepit and abandoned edifice and facilities of City Hall were renovated to ensure that taxpayers and City residents will have a reason to be proud and happy about going to their City Hall. The services, especially at the taxpayers’ lounge was substantially improved to make them feel very important by giving them the extra mile of free coffee, tea or bottled water while they wait for their turn to be attended by the treasury staff. 

Needless to say the major halls have become good photo opportunities for the city residents who make contrasting shots of the old exteriors and new interiors of City Hall.

Year 2009

OBJECTIVE:

This report aims to provide a general view of the accomplishments of the Manila City Government, under the administration and leadership of Hon. Mayor Alfredo S. Lim for the period of January to June, year 2009.   

Mayor Alfredo S. Lim signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Civil Service Commission on the implementation of the Citizen’s Charter or Republic Act 9285 or the Anti Red Tape Act of 2007. The Citizen’s Charter promotes transparency in government in the manner of transacting with the public by requiring each agency to simplify frontline service procedures, formulate service standards to be observed in every transaction and make known these standards to the clients. He repeatedly voiced his commitment to good governance and transparency; his desire to eliminate bureaucratic red tape and avert graft and corruption practices and improve the efficiency of delivery of government frontline services, which are the very same principles of the Citizen’s Charter.

He ordered Manila Police District Chief Superintendent Gen. Roberto Rosales to add 100 men and deploy all 38 motorcycle cops to the major intersections during rush hours of 7 to 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 to 7 p.m. He also ordered immediate adoption of three shifts (of 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.; 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. and 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.) so that the cops will have time for their families but must be on standby in cases of emergencies.

Manila City acquired 200 more wheelchairs donated by the medical fraternity of the UP-Philippine General Hospital and personally delivered them to recipients in different barangays in Manila, took them either out from their beds or homes and wheeled them himself outside to get fresh air.

It is only in Mayor Lim’s time that the City Hall has been taken into consideration with respect to beautification. Firstly inaugurated was the Freedom Hall, right beside the Freedom Park flagpole, where in the past visiting dignitaries were welcomed and given a tour of the entire City Hall before getting into the Bulwagang Plaridel and then to the Mayor’s office. This wing is now where community tax certificates are issued and bible studies are being held.

He opened the Taxpayers’ lounge and the newly-renovated City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) which were repainted orange (his favorite color), the chandeliers replaced with new ones using the energy-efficient compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), sparkling granite tiles delighted the public, sliding analogue windows replaced the broken jalousies and where free coffee, hot or iced tea or purified water is served to taxpayers as they wait for their turn to transact at the counter.

The Mayor also ordered the improvements in the look of City Hall so the edifice, including the historic Tower Clock (later named Regina Manila) will be more lively and attractive to the people so that “they will feel proud of their financial contributions to the city by way of their taxes.”

He started the “food treat” program and recreation for the elderly like providing them with board games and other entertainment at the satellite offices every week.

He increased the revolving fund of principals in the city’s public schools to P40,000 a month to be used for the immediate repairs needed in schools and their other learning facilities pointing out that immediate repair of toilets.

He urged Manila Police District Superintendent Roberto Rosales to fund the reunions of retired Manila policemen, a practice started by Col. Franklin Gacutan while station commander in Meisic, Binondo. He told him continue tapping the wisdom and wealth of experience of the retired policemen and interact with them, time or schedule permits, so they can learn a lesson or two from them. The retired cops would have fun reliving and reminiscing their good old days in the Manila’s Finest and this way they can updated on what is happening.

Same month of January, he led the lighting of Plaza Lorenzo Ruiz (in front of Binondo Church) and Plaza Sta. Cruz (in front of Sta. Cruz Church) and the entire stretch of Ongpin Street. He said the reason for lighting up these plazas is to enable the residents to have some place to go to socialize and even just while time away, which is very hard and risky to do when it is very dark

Reiterating his zero-vendor policy, he said that his policy for allowing sidewalk vending is that the vendors will only use a uniform size of 1 X 1 (square meter) and vending is allowed only until 7 p.m. after which the vendors must leave so as not to impede the traffic. Violators were asked to look at these alternative sites: Muelle del Banco Nacional in Escolta (from Jones Bridge to MacArthur Bridge); the vacant lot of Duty Free in Divisoria and the two private lots in Quezon Boulevard for vending.

Not setting aside his crime busting skills and campaign, Mayor Lim ordered the Manila Police District to put an immediate end to the gang wars in the city citing records of the Presidential Anti Organized Crime Commission that over 30 street gangs caused trouble in Metro Manila like the notorious Trece Hudas, Tau Gamma Phi fraternity, the Bulabog Boys and Walang Sawa sa Alak (WASALAK).

He continued to hold and institutionalize meetings with the barangay officials to bring their issues and concerns directly to the Mayor and expect instant response. Such meetings, the Mayor said, brings City Hall closer to its constituents similar to the outcome of the regular Friday People's Day at City Hall.

On May 28, 2009, the most controversial Ordinance 8187 was approved despite the heavy resistance given by the present administration’s detractors as well as the different sectors who are claiming to be saviors of environment and people. Listening more to the voices of  majority of the masses and holding fair dialogues with various business chambers and national agencies, not to mention the personal visit to the Archdiocese of Manila, where Lim was given an open-minded advice by His Eminence Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, he bravely faced the challenge of what he referred to as “the devil and the deep blue sea”.

The Ordinance allowed the big industries in the Pandacan and Sta Ana areas to stay in operation, including the three big oil companies, with a promise of the latter to gradually phase out in a matter of time that will be deemed realistic. This action gave smiles and relieved the heavy chests of the residents in these affected areas who are depending on these industries for employment, education, and even shelter.

And even if the saga did not end at that, with the opponents filing charges left and right, the administration remains valiant and consistent with what it believes to be good for all and not just convenient to a few and that would satisfy their political interests.

In such a short period several street/road rehabilitation and concreting projects were accomplished this year. Among these are Kasipagan and Hinahon Sts. In Tondo, Velasquez, Inocencio, and Lacson Sts from Capulong to Herbosa in Tondo, Lakandula and Ma. Payo Sts. Also in Tondo, Herbosa St., to name a few. He aimed to ensure the residents a solid, accessible ground to walk on and render a flood-free community.

Lighting projects were also fast tracked. The lighting of Ayala Bridge, Roxas Boulevard (service road side), the Paraiso ng Batang Maynila park and playground across Manila Zoo, and all the major roads and minor streets which were neglected in the past are now gleaming the once dark and crime-prone streets. Manilans now enjoy the beauty of the city not only in the day but also during the night.

His administration is behind the installation of beautiful and colorful lampposts in major bridges, roads, plazas and public parks. To name a few he has completed rehabilitation of the street lights in Jones, Quiapo, and MacArthur bridges and parks like Plaza Dilao, Plaza Azul, Plaza Verde, Plaza Morga, Plaza Moriones, Plaza Hernandez and the Vitas Playground.

Under the management of the Public Recreation Bureau (PRB), the perimeter fence of Manila Zoo was repainted and new animal signages and new map were installed. For the convenience of the visitors or viewers, new restrooms were constructed. Prioritizing the welfare of the animal inhabitants, constructions of Araphaima Pond, Elephant Habitat, and Reptile house were started.

Playgrounds such as the Baseco Playground I, Baseco Playground II, and Vitas Playground were completed. Fabrication of playing apparatus for distribution to the different playgrounds in the city and to barangays are also in place. Playground equipment for Plaza Azul and Plaza Jacinto were also constructed.

The basketball floorings of 36 covered courts owned by the city and other 36 open courts were also repainted. The barangay basketball courts were provided with proper basketball boards with rings.

The city served a total of 610,196 people through different sports programs and residents enjoy the convenience of the city-owned sports facilities. Sports activities conducted were Summer League 2009, Palarong Pinoy sa Baseco 2009, Free Learn to Swim 2009 at Dapitan Sports Complex with 1,000 graduates, and the Mayor’s Cup 2009 which was co-sponsored with Manila Sports Council (MASCO).

In June, 2009 the City awarded lot certificates to 194 actual occupants of city-owned properties under his “Land for the Landless” program. The recipients were: 94 from Tondo; 49 from Sta. Cruz; 29 from Pandacan; 12 from Sampaloc and 10 from Paco. Since the Mayor took over the leadership for the second time last July 2007, he has given lands to 798 families under Land-for-the-Landless Program, a component of his 11-point agenda for Urban Renewal and Development, managed by the Urban Settlements Office.

To acknowledge and give credit to the efforts of the barangay officials and their constituents, the city held the search for cleanest barangays.  The search for cleanest barangays aimed to ensure that basic services of government will be felt by the community through cleanliness and beautification, as the major function. It encourages barangay officials to initiate cleanliness through community volunteerism and cooperation. The contest gives due recognition to barangays who have shown outstanding performance in cleaning and beautifying their communities.

Despite the minimal resources utilized by the city due to the budget deficit incurred during the past governance, Lim’s administration continues to prioritize the funding for the schools, hospitals, health centers, infrastructure projects, livelihood programs, workforce projects, and community and urban development.

Unique to other political leaders, Mayor Lim has always refused to take the credit for the accomplishments of the City. Instead, he gives the credit back to the people and residents of Manila who have contributed either by donations or by way of paying their taxes... (Media Bureau)

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ACCOMPLISHMENT SUMMARY

PUBLIC RECREATION BUREAU (PRB)
Office Head - Engineer Deogracias Manimbo

MANILA TOURISM AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS BUREAU (MTCAB)
OIC - Atty. Solfia Arboladura

MANILA HISTORICAL & HERITAGE COMMISSION (MHHC)
Vice Chairperson - Ms. Gemma Cruz - Araneta

VETERINARY INSPECTION BOARD (VIB)
Engr. Francisco Co / Ms. Sonia Calmos

DIVISION OF CITY SCHOOLS - MANILA
School Superintendent - Mr. Ponciano Menguito

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS & PROTOCOL
OIC - Ma. Teresita Villegas

BUREAU OF PERMITS
Director - Mr. Nelson Alivio

OFFICE OF THE CITY ENGINEER
City Engineer Armando Andres

OFFICE OF THE BUILDING OFFICIAL
Engr. Melvin Balagot

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SERVICES
OIC - Col. Carlos Baltazar (Ret)

MANILA COMPLAINT AND ACTION TEAM
Col. Franklin Gacutan (Ret)