BAYWALK IS A HAVEN OF PEACE FOR LOVERS AND FAMILIES – LIM

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim announced to his Facebook (FB) friends and the public about the fireworks display prepared by the City Government of Manila at Baywalk across the Rajah Sulayman Park on December 31, 2009 at 12 midnight to welcome 2010 with enchanting and magnificent sparks and lights.

His wish of a peaceful and quiet nation was emphasized in his FB shoutout. “I pray for peace not only in Manila but in our country as a whole.”

Baywalk, which was once known for loud and noisy restaurants which disturbed a lot of tenants and guests in the condominiums and hotels respectively in the nearby areas, was wiped clean when Lim assumed his mayoral post in 2007.

Some were disappointed especially the bar and restaurant owners but more lauded Lim’s action when they started to appreciate the beautiful view of Manila Bay and its sunset without distractions and hindrances, even from the comfort of their driving along Roxas Boulevard. The city government also put more pleasing lightings to liven the baywalk more which stretched up to its boundary in Vito Cruz.

Thus, on New Year’s Eve, Manila will be displayed with life and lights along baywalk. Contrary to critics’ claim that it is now dark and filthy, the “walk along the boulevard” as it was once fondly called, has been admired of its exposed beauty and splendor day and night. Couples and families walking along the baywalk watching the beautiful sunset and enjoying the sea breeze appreciated its quietness and serenity.

“At least now, the lovers and families walking along the baywalk can enjoy its tranquility. They can talk and chat without competing with the loud sounds from the bandstands. And in the event of an unexpected calamity like typhoon, the motorists will be safe from the possible dangers of the stalls’ parts flying around,” Lim said.

“Also, it stopped the accumulation of garbage in Manila bay as well. Because even if the people at that time said they were not throwing garbage in the bay, they couldn’t avoid the plastic cups and paper plates which the restaurants at that time were using, from being blown into the waters of the bay.” 

“They said a lot of jobs were lost when the restaurants were removed, but we have to follow the law. No drinking in public and say no to noise pollution. Besides, how can jobs be lost, most of them had their main branches in the inner Manila like Malate. I was told the crews were only taking shifts between their main branch and the one they have put up in Baywalk.”

“I have already talked to our officers to revive the Saturday activities when we had replaced the baywalk restaurants and stalls with serenades from the school chorales and bands as well to give some entertainment to the passers by and public in a non-busy day.This will also encourage our public school students to participate, cultivate, and show their talents.”

(Mayor Lim’s Facebook: Alfredo Lim. Please visit www.manilacityph.com or www.fredlim.com for the link. Thank you.)

Ospital ng Maynila: Away in a manger…

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim started his Christmas Day morning with his gift-giving at the four (4) city-run hospitals in Manila. At 9:00 in the morning, he started his ‘Christmas rounds’ at Ospital ng Sampaloc, followed by Ospital ng Tondo, and Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center (GABMMC), where he visited each hospital ward and gave christmas gifts to the patients confined .

His last visit was the Ospital Ng Maynila where a special visit to the woman who delivered her twins last wednesday December 23, 2009.

The 30-year old woman Marilyn gave birth to twins succesfully according to Dr. Teodoro E. MArtin, Hospital Director of Ospital ng Maynila. After the couple from Las Pinas City went around nine (9) hospitals (public and private) in metro manila, they landed in Ospital ng Maynila where she was given immediate care and medical attention.

“We were in a restaurant with Mayor Lim after the misa de gallo until Mr. Taruc (DZRH) called the Mayor and informed him of the situation. Their relative from Bicol called the radio station crying because Marilyn and Leonardo had been declined and refused by already nine hospitals from Las Pinas, Quezon City, San Juan, and even in Sta. Cruz Manila. After the phone call, Mayor Lim immediately tasked me to get the woman in an ambulance and we brought her to Ospital ng Maynila, where we had her checked.”

“There were no referrals from the hospitals where they went to. They said it’s because the case is delicate and dangerous and they are not well-equipped in case the children would need respirators and other medical equipment.” Martin explained.

 “After ultrasound and other medical laboratories, we found out that she was about to deliver twins, and one is in a breech presentation, where the legs are oriented to come out first, so she underwent caesarian delivery. She’s only 31 weeks so premature.”

“It’s her 4th pregnancy so she has 5 children now. The babies are in good condition, in fact they are for discharge today, they are just waiting for the father of the babies.”

 “Mayor Lim’s policy is free hospital for all. And we don’t choose our patients. Even if you are not from Manila, patients are always welcome and we will not have second thoughts about giving them treatment. And even in dangerous cases, we check them first to see what emergency measures we can do. We cannot send them away.” Martin added.

Mother Marilyn was so thankful to Dr. Martin and Mayor Lim when Lim visited her in her room.

“I think they will name the twins Joe and Fred,” Martin said in a jest referring to Joe Taruc and Mayor Fred Lim who ended the painful saga of the couple.

On one hand, Mayor lim reiterated immediate medical attention and free hospitalization for poor patients not only Manilans but for those who need medical help from anywhere in the country.

 ” I always tell the directors and doctors of all the 5 city-run hospitals to make sure that all patients who seek medical treatment will be given proper attention. And whether they are from Manila or elsewhere, if they seek and need to be hospitalized, accept them. Don’t think twice. If they cannot accomodate, make sure they will be brought to other available hospitals in an ambulance and they must bring them themselves if possible.” Lim said.

Manila has currently five city-run hospitals offering free hospitalization. Ospital ng Maynila, Ospital ng Tondo, Ospital ng Sampaloc, Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center, Jose Abad Santos Mother and Child Hospital, and soonest on February 2010, the 6th city-run hospital in Sta. Ana will also be opened. All of these have been provided with 150,000 peso-revolving fund to cater to the needs of the patients as to medicines and emergency necessities.

NEWLY-RENOVATED OSPITAL NG TONDO BLESSED

Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim cut the ribbon and unveiled the marker of the newly-renovated Ospital ng Tondo, a four-storey hospital that has a laboratory, pharmacy, pediatrics, ophthalmology, medicine, surgery, OB-gynecology, x-ray and radiology department, emergency and admitting sections at the ground floor with wards on the second and third floors.

With the Mayor at the hospital blessing were: Councilor Carlo Lopez of District 2, candidates for councilor chairwoman Baby Guttierez, Ruben Bunag, Rod Lacsamana, Ramon Robles, doctors, nurses, hospital staffs, department heads and barangay officials.

The blessing was officiated by Msgr. Cesar Pagulayan of San Jose Parish Priest. Dr. Marlon Millares said the 15-year old hospital was improved and expanded on orders of Mayor Lim for the benefit of its constituents.

It was Mayor Lim who built the hospital and he also now improved it to provide better room and services to the people of the second district. “Our only payback to Mayor Lim is to support his re-election,” he said.

“This hospital was built to provide you proper health care especially at times when your health fails you. I gave each hospital in the city a revolving fund of P150,000 a month so that all improvements and medical needs and supplies can be purchased without having to go through the city hall’s requisition process”, Mayor Lim said.

He said the hospital staff has no excuse to say they run out of medicines and medical supplies because they can buy what they need anytime. Lim said healthcare is his top priority in governance.

“I keep telling the doctors to give their best services to the people, especially the poor,” Lim said. After his short message, the Mayor led the distribution of gifts to 150 outpatient and in-patients of the Ospital ng Tondo.

MANILA FOCUSES ON ELECTION AUTOMATION AWARENESS

Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim leads the city department heads, employees and barangay chairmen in attending the seminar on Automation Law and the actual demonstration of casting of votes conducted by the Commission of Election (COMELEC) headed Atty. Ferdinand Rafanan held at the Cecilia Muñoz Palma Hall in City College of Manila Monday afternoon.

Mayor Lim was a given a chance to experience the new means of casting one’s vote during election.  In the seminar, Lim and the attendees were oriented the proper way of shading and the proper way of inserting a ballot through the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) Machine. 

The COMELEC, if the election becomes successful, aims the country to be the biggest automated election in the whole world. 

It was also learned that the official ballot is bar coded and has ultra-violet ink and once already counted by the PCOS machine the said ballot will not be accepted by any machine if inserted again. 

The accuracy rating of the PCOS machine is 99.995%.  It could even detect and reject fake ballots.  And ballot snatching and switching will never occur for this coming election. 

Brown-out during election is not a problem for the PCOS machine because it has a built-in battery that has a capacity for 16 hours. 

The PCOS machine could transmit through internet service provider to different Municipal Poll Canvassers such as COMELEC, Congress, Kapisanan ng mga Broadcasters sa Pilipinas for the media, accredited citizens arm of COMELEC, dominant majority party, dominant minority party.  

Neither an I.T. expert could hack the system since it has a 128-bit encryption and the transmission of each PCOS machine is only for 2 minutes.  

According to COMELEC, the problems of the election are the human factors involving killing, intimidation, buying of votes and terrorism and asked the attendees to be vigilant. 

COMELEC assured the attendees that there will be no failure of election.  In case of system breakdown the COMELEC has a back-up plan prepared.

Mayor Lim expects the automated election to be successful as he expressed support for high technology in a fast-growing modern country.

MANILA’S NEW BATANG MAYOR TAKES OATH

The City of Manila has a new Batang Mayor 2009, Maria Angelica M. Chiu of Ramon Magsaysay High School and Batang Vice Mayor 2009 Lorenzo Maria C. De Guzman of G. perfecto High School who will reign over Manila for a week starting December 7 to December 11, 2009.

 A total of 32 public schools and 6 private high schools including Academy of Sakya, Espiritu Santo, St. Anthony, St. Stephen, Republic Institute, and Holy Child were chosen. The students have taken over the positions of city officials since Monday and started their hands on training on city governance as Manila observes Boys and Girls Week. with its theme: Kaagapay, Kabalikat sa Higit na Maunlad na Maynila.

 The Batang Mayor and Batang Vice Mayor together with other officials attended the city’s regular Monday flag raising ceremony at the City Hall Freedom Triangle and were introduced to city officials at the breakfast with their counterparts held at Bulwagang Villegas, before visiting their respective offices.

 Mayor Lim said: “ dito binibigyan natin ng pagpapahalaga ang linggo ng mga kabataan lalo na yung mga nahalal bilang alkalde at bise alkalde, ito ang napakagandang yugto sa inyong buhay mag-aaral dahil ito ay pagsasanay para sa darating na mga taon na kayo ay makakagraduate sa high school at college at magampanan ninyo ng buong husay at katapatan ang panunungkulan hindi lamang sa pamamahalaan kung hindi pati sa pribadong sector”.

 Mayor Lim advised the students to study very hard, respect their teachers, and love your parents and family. “Mag-aral kayong mabuti para makatapos hanggang kolehiyo upang maging matagumpay kayo at maging professionals”.

 “Huwag ninyong kalimutan ang inyong mga magulang at mahalin ninyo sila. Kapag kayo nakapagtapos, kayo naman ang tatanaw ng utang na loob sa inyong mga magulang. mapalad kayo at may mga magulang pa kayo na nagpapaaral at nag-aaruga sa inyo”, the Mayor said, rekindling his childhood days when he grew up in Hospicio de San Jose, an orphanage, and eventually taken uder his granparents’ custody.

 The Mayor told the young students that he was orphaned at a young age and at 13 years old he worked by selling native rice cakes to earn a living so he could support his studies. Before finishing high school he had to transfer school four times because he needed to study near his work place to save transportation fare.

 The young officials came from R. Magsaysay, G. Perfecto, Lakandula, Torres, Tondo, Araullo, Manila Science, Manila High, Abad Santos, Roxas, Nolasco etc. 

 On one hand, Arjohn Bautista, Batang OIC of Media Information Bureau, from Lakadula Highschool observed how the office functions and its staffs.

Bigay Liwanag Benefits Manila’s Schoolchildren

Bigay Liwanag Benefits Manila’s Schoolchildren

Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim awarded free eyeglasses to 75 vision impaired schoolchildren and 9 to special children of Jose Rizal Elementary School in Tayuman, Tondo Wednesday morning.

The eyeglasses were donated by the First Metro Investment Corporation (FMIC) that form the second phase of the company’s effort to alleviate the vision problems of students from grades 1 to 6. The first phase was held last year at Gen. Maximo Hizon Elementary School. Bigay Liwanag is the first corporate social responsibility (CSR) project of First Metro Investment Corporation.

Francisco Sebastian, FMIC president, said, it’s their second year to distribute eyeglasses and hoped to continue every year with the help of Mayor Lim. 

Mayor Lim thanked First Metro Investment officials led by its president, Sebastian, for their generous donation which would help improve the reading capabilities and eventually help the abilities to get good ratings of the elementary students. 

The Mayor told the recipients, “sana bigyan ninyo ng halaga ang ibinibigay sa inyo ng First Metro Investment Corporation dahil malaking tulong ito sa pagbabasa ng libro at paggawa ng homework. Umpisa pa lamang ng pagbibigay ng libreng salamin, susunod din na mabibigyan ang iba pang schools na meron ding mga problema sa paningin, kaya itong ibinigay sa inyo hindi lamang ang inyong mata ang lilinaw pati ang inyong pag-iisip”. 

He reiterated to the elementary students “mag-aral, mag-aral, mag-aral, dahil iyan ang susi sa inyong kinabukasan., hindi lamang yung makapagtapos kayo ng elementary, high school, kung hindi pati sa college, dahil pati college sa Lungsod ng Maynila ay libre, dahil nandiyan ang City College of Manila at Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila”.