LIM WANTS CAMPAIGN MATERIALS REMOVED IN THE CITY

Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim ordered the City Engineering and Department of Public Services to get rid of the posters, streamers, tarpaulins and other nuisance materials that are hanging on major roads and intersections, weeks before the actual campaign allowed by law.  

            At the Department Heads and Chiefs of offices meeting last Monday, the Mayor directed City Engineer Armando Andres to coordinate with DPS Chief Col. Carlos Baltazar regarding the removal of campaign materials that are blocking the landscape of the city. 

            Under the rules and regulation of the Commission on Elections, no campaign material in any form must be used after the filing of the certificate of candidacy, which ends on Dec. 1, 2009. 

            Yet, Lim said, months before the filing of COCs, these materials have already donned the major thoroughfares, distracting motorists and pedestrians from their normal course of life. 

            Lim, a stickler for laws, said “the city must follow and uphold the law to be fair to all. The objective is also to clean up the city and maintain it from thereon.” 

            Similarly, Lim told the department heads to, as much as possible, continue what the good projects and progorams of their predecessors and not just scrap them just to put in something new, that they can call their own. 

“For as long as they are good and right including the projects and renovations so that the city will not be spending much on changes and revisions if only for the sake of the new designated officer’s personal dislike,” he said. 

If some of them need improvements or just minor revisions, critical thinking must be observed and not indulge in changing the whole structure. This applies to all hospitals, schools, offices which are being either repaired or reconstructed, Lim said. 

He also reminded them to do their duties and level up their performances as he has never interfered with any of their corresponding tasks. He respects the duties and responsibilities of the heads and their capabilities in performing their work well.