LIM SAYS HE GIVES EDUCATION FOR ALL IN MANILA

Even as presidential aspirants are just talking about their education agenda with the view of providing education for all, Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim says he has been giving free education to Manilans since his first incumbency and in his first term under the second incumbency.

Addressing a forum at the PUP College of Arts and Sciences entitled “10 days and 10 voices: Education Platform 2010,” Lim boasted that Manila started the ‘zero fee’ education at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila and the City College of Manila during his 1st incumbency in 1992 which was eventually copied by other cities in Metro Manila.

He added that when he came back as mayor of Manila in 2007, he ordered a stop to the collection of contributions to all students in public elementary and high schools and provided revolving funds to all school principals from P20,000 up to P40,000 every month to accommodate all miscellaneous expenses of their schools.

The Mayor stressed that during his term, teachers’ bonuses increased from P1,000 a month to P2,500 in addition to their monthly salaries to boost their moral and stop them from selling their wares to students to augment their incomes.

The forum was attended by different sectors and students to voice out their hopes and agenda for Education for All (EFA) to future leaders, Presidential candidate Jamby Madrigal, together with party list representatives from KAAKBAY, AKBAYAN, ABAKADA and UNI-MAD.

It was also attended by out of school youth from urban poor communities in Metro Manila, indigenous people from Pampanga and children with disability as they urged the candidates to give equal attention and concrete policy that will equalize education for the poor.

Manila Adopts 15-Minute Business Registration

Manila City Business Center

New businesses in Manila may now finish their business registration in a two-step process which will take only 15 minutes and two person-to-person interfaces in comparison to its previous 17-step interfaces.

With technical assistance from International Finance Corporation (IFC), a private sector arm of the World Bank Group, the city is now able to issue business permits within the day when it used to take as long as 52 days before.

The major reforms in business processes, promoted by IFC’s Investment Climate program with the support of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the Australian Agency for International Development (Aus-AID), are expected to encourage more small and medium-scale enterprises to join the formal sector in the Philippine capital.

The capital serves as the country’s representative city for the annual World Bank Group “Doing Business” report. The global 2010 survey ranked the Philippines as 144th in a global list of 183 economies.

“Greater business activities will impact the income opportunities and basic services for the city’s poor. IFC is happy to have worked with the city government to make these significant improvements in a Regulatory Simplification program we are piloting in three other Metro Manila cities with the support of the League of Cities of the Philippines,” said Jesse Ang, IFC’s Resident Representative.

Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim said the process reforms were the result of months of study, hard work, and collaboration by the city’s staffs from various departments who were trained by the Ateneo School of Government, IFC’s project partner. These are the Bureau of Permits, Licensing Division, Engineering Dept, Treasury Dept, Electronic data Processing Services (EDPS), Accounting Office, Budget Office, Office of the Chief of Staff of the Mayor, Office of City Administrator, City Fire Marshal Office, Health and Sanitation Office.

“The Manila City Business Center (MCBC) and its simplified business registration process is the city’s means towards a comfortable, easy, fast and efficient way of doing business.

This is equally for all business constituents of the city, whether big or small like those ranging from the small vending stores to biggers companies.

This is contrary to hearsays that the MCBC will cater to big businesses only.

“We want the people to feel comfortable while registering your business where you will be attended to immediately and your business permit be given to you within the day or within 15 minutes,” said Mayor Lim.

LIM AWARDS 110 CERTIFICATES TO MANILA OCCUPANTS

Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim this morning awarded lot certificates to 110 families in Manila. 

The city-owned properties were given under his Land for the Landless Program to deserving families at the Bulwagang Villegas, Manila City Hall. The recipients were from Tondo, Sampaloc, Paco, and Pandacan.

According to Victoria Clavel of Urban Settlements Office, from 1967 to February 18,2010, Manila has already awarded home lots to 6,553 families, around 30% of which were already issued with land titles. Of these, 1150 or 17.55% were granted lots from July 2007 to February 18,2010 under Mayor Lim’s administration.

Assisting the Mayor in the distribution of Lot Awards were Secretary to the Mayor Atty. Rafaelito M. Garayblas, Urban Settlements Officer Victoria S. Clavel and City Legal Officer Atty. Renato Dela Cruz. Dela Cruz said that it is the Mayor’s topmost priority to provide permanent homes to these settlers. 

Lim, in one of his media interviews said that his next big project will be mass housing projects to relieve the city from the problems on informal settlers.

MANILA CELEBRATES 138TH MARTYRDOM OF GOMBURZA

The City of Manila led by Mayor Alfredo S. Lim commemorated the 138th martyrdom of Filipino priests during the Spanish era and better known as GOMBURZA for Fathers Gomez, Burgos and Zamora.    They were all killed in Luneta and buried in Pandacan (birth place of Father Jacinto Zamora). They were eventually buried in the Paco Park.   “Dapat lagi nating isinasaalala ang kabayanihan at pagkamartir ng ating tatlong pari.  Kahit na hindi sila lumaban o nagpakita ng katapangan sa giyera naipadama naman nila ang paninindigan para sa karapatan ng ating mga kababayang pari,” Lim told the youth in the audience   . Lim said the main concern of the three priests– GOMBURZA  was to give Filipino priests their own churches in accordance with the policy of the Catholic Church, which the Spanish friars did not observe because of professional jealousy. The friars wanted to stay as long as they wanted.     “Ang tatlong mga pari ay idinawit sa isang himagsikan sa Cavite kung saan naman ang mga tao ay lumaban dahil sa mataas na paniningil ng mga buwis.  At may nabasang sulat na gawa ni Padre Jacinto Zamora na may nakalagay na “Pulbura at Bala” kung saan ito ay isa lamang palabas na balak gawin ng mga pari”, Lim added.   Since the friars did not have any much evidence against the 3 Filipino priests, GOMBURZA were executed after two days in Luneta.   Lim told everybody present not to forget the traditional love for our country.  “Huwag nating kalilimutan na ang pag-aalay ng buhay ay isang pinakamahalagang  pagtitiis o sakripisyo ng isang tao alang-alang sa pagmamahal sa bayan.”   Lim said people must only vote wisely this coming election using your mind, heart and conscience in choosing the most deserving candidate.

Manila Hosts NCR Palarong Panrehiyon 2010

 The game is on for the National Capital Region (NCR) Palarong Panrehiyon 2010 as Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim graced the opening ceremonies at Rizal Memorial Sports Complex (RMSC) where the City of Manila is the year’s host for the event.

About 16 cities and one municipality joined the NCR’s biggest sportsfest.

Lim who led the Manila contingent marched the track oval together with Manila’s City School Superintendent Dr. Ponciano Menguito, Assistant Superintendents Dr. Lourdes Lim, Dr. Narcisa Sta. Ana and Dr. Mario De Gulan, Manila Sports Council Nino Dela Cruz.

Selected athletes from the different city schools of Manila led the torch relay and the lighting of the urn for peace and unity.

Lim imparted that it must be kept in mind that in as much as Dr. Jose Rizal referred to the youth as the nation’s hope, the teachers and principals must also be considered the same as “without them there’ll be no students.”

“Finish your studies, and strive for excellence para maging magaling sa inyong kursong kukunin”, Lim’s advised the young athletes.

“Kailangan ninyo ng disiplina sa katawan para maging malakas at malusog”, the mayor added.

The Mayor’s night at the Century Park Hotel highlighted the search and coronation of Mr. and Ms. NCR Palaro.

Mayor Lim hosted a dinner, and in his speech, he informed the superintendents and guests present that Manila has established a free education not only in primary and secondary but as well as free college education in order to lift Manilans from hardships and to succeed in life.

He expressed his hope that the cities and other provinces in the country will have the same, mentioning the 16 proposed bills he laid in the senate when he was still a senator, among them focused on education and health.

The Mr. and Ms. NCR Palaro where both earned by the Division of the City of Caloocan and presented the award were Mayor Lim’s Chief of Staff Ricardo de Guzman and Dep-Ed NCR’s Director IV Dr. Teresita Domalanta.

LIM INAUGURATES NEW SCHOOL BUILDING

Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim lead the ribbon cutting ceremony at opening of the new 3-story building of Isabelo Delos Reyes Elementary School in Tondo Tuesday morning.

The new three- story building has 11 classrooms, four comfort rooms and one auditorium and at the ground floor is open an open space for some activities like holding meetings and conferences for teachers and parents.

Mayor Lim said that the building was funded by taxpayers money.

He said, “education is the only way out of poverty and a road to a brighter future”. He also asked the parents to take care and love their children and encourage them to pursue their degrees in college.

For the students, he reminded them to show respect, kindness and love for their parents and teachers who struggle each day just to be able to put them in school for them to learn.

“Strive harder to finish until college. We have two universities in the city that provides free education, waiting for you, ” he emphazised.

 The next to be inaugurated will be Tondo High School in Tondo. Education is one of his priority projects to ensure students to have a more convenient and conducive place of learning.

Also present during the inauguration were: Congressman Benjamin “Atong” Asilo, city school superintendent Dr. Ponciano Menguito, Ruth Ricaforte, school principal, Fr. Apol Arcala, parish priest Sto. Niño Tondo, assistant school superintendents and city officials.

LIM INAUGURATES NEW ARAULLO’S BUILDING

Parents must not be deprived of one of their most shining moments, that is seeing their children finish their education.

This is what Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim stressed to the students of Araullo High School during the inaugural rites of its new Phase II building Monday morning.

Lim believed that the only way to succeed in life and lift Manilans from hardships is to finish college and to become professionals someday.

Since Lim values education, the city established one of the city’s main programs for the poor – free education. Lim’s second incumbency have accomplished series of construction of additional educational buildings for primary and secondary schools in Manila in order to accommodate more students and encourage them to finish school and pursue their goals.

With his on-going projects for the improvement of school facilities, he sees to it that these children and their parents will not have any reason to stop from studying and with Lim’s programs, financial constraints should not be an issue.

The school’s reformation started last year with the phase I which caters to Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE) students and now its second phase has been established for Home Economics education.

The city spent about 80 million of city government funds for the new 4-story building with 15 by 80 square meters.

The first floor has 8 workshop rooms while the 2nd floor has also 8 multi-purpose rooms and the third floor will be for home economics classes whereas the 4th floor have two school auditoriums.

Also present during the school’s inauguration were City Engineer Armando Andres, Designing Chief of the City Engineer’s Office Engr. Walfrido Novero, Jr., City Schools Superintendent Dr. Ponciano Menguito, City Hospital Directors Dr. Ronald Millares of Ospital ng Tondo, Dr. Fidel Chua of Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center, Isaias Cando of Ospital ng Maynila, Dr. Teodoro Martin of the newest hospital Jose Abad Santos Mother and Child Hospital, Public Recreation’s Bureau Director Engr. Deogracias Manimbo, and other city school principals and students.

LP-KKK Proclamation Rally Kicks-Off In Tondo

Revival of the of standard government system where corruption does not exist eyed by the Liberal Party (LP) and KKK was the central message of Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim during the Proclamation Rally of both political parties at Moriones in Tondo Saturday evening.

“Ang Liberal Party at ang KKK, ayaw namin sa nagsisinungaling, mandaraya, magnanakaw at iyan ang pagbabagong gagawin ni Noynoy at ni Mar at malaking pagbabago ang dadating at ang lahat ng mga taong gumawa ng pagmamalabis sa bayan at mananagot”, Lim said.

Thousands of Manilans attended the rally and represented by different groups such as Lakas ng Inang Manileño, senior citizens and different members of the barangay where, also, some representatives from other districts came to witness one of the most biggest political gathering in the city.

Lim took the chance of clearing things as what some news items had published against Lim’s administration where the city has done nothing for the people of Manila .

Lim enumerated some important projects that he has done for the city focusing on health, education, and peace and order.

Lim mentioned the new hospitals, Jose Abad Santos Mother and Child Hospital , in District 3, which was inaugurated last December and the on-going construction of 6th district hospital covering the areas of Sta. Mesa, Pandacan and Sta. Ana, where a 10-storey hospital with fully air-conditioned rooms and modernized hospital equipments could be found. He mentioned as well the three hospitals that he built during his first incumbency.

Lim who focuses on education for poor children, mentioned the different series of construction of additional buildings in various schools in Manila .

He justified his health condition by making 25 push-ups in front of thousands of Manilans.

Lim said that the real LP is handled by Presidential candidate Senator Noynoy Aquino and Mar Roxas as the vice-president and not the LP handled by Atienza.

“Huwag mong gamitin ang Liberal dahil ang tunay na Liberal ay yung kay Noynoy at Mar”, Lim added. Lim cautioned people to be very careful on people who are only good in speeches in yet has done little things for the city.

“Mag-ingat kayo sa mga taong nagkukunwari o nagpapanggap.” Lim challenged anyone who could prove that he has done nothing for the city and he would withdraw from re-election.

He also stressed that Atienza failed to appear in the scheduled debates for three times in a row.

OUTSTANDING MANILA CITY EMPLOYEES RECOGNIZED

Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim and Nitoy Tagle, president of Rotary Club of Downtown Manila (RCDM) were joined by the city officials in honoring the ten outstanding city government employees Friday morning at Bulwagang Villegas, Manila City Hall.

The awarding ceremony was in line with the RCDM’s goal of bettering public service delivery and giving recognition to public servants who have shown dedication, sacrifice, selflessness, and concern for the city’s constituents.

Among those awarded as outstanding city government employees who received plaques of appreciation and a cash awards from the Rotary Club of Downtown Manila were: Jay de la Fuente, OIC, Manila Department of Social Welfare, Jorge Bataller of City Legal Office, Elnora Bodino of Department of Public Services, Imelda David of Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center (GABMMC), Vladimir Payumo of Bureau of Fire Protection, Ben Aquino of Media Bureau – Office of the Mayor, Josefino Ong of Department of Public Services, Edwin Alcantara of Public Recreations Bureau, Catalina Arca of City College of Manila, Elizabeth Ponce of Ospital ng Sampaloc.

A special awardee, Dr. Lourdes Lim of Division of City Schools was also given recognition for her 40 years of public service.

“My gratitude to the Rotary Club of Downtown Manila  (RCDM)  for its very rewarding recognition of our city government employees, ” Li said.

“These special awards of excellence are deserved by these awardees. There is dignity of labor no matter what kind of work you have, strive for excellence and this is the essence of this awarding ceremony,” he added.

He congratulated the awardees as he asked them to continue serving the people with dedication and passion.

The nomination process and awarding rites were facilitated by Atty. Renato Dela Cruz, City Legal Officer.

The awardees were nominated based on their efficiency, length of service, and their apparent dedication to their line of work.

Ben Aquino for example, has been City Hall’s official photographer for 36 years and have served 4 Manila mayors and Jay Dela Fuente has been a personal choice of the Mayor as he chose to continue to serve the Manilans, old and young, day and night, and had set his candidacy for councilor aside, believing that he’d be better off serving the entire Manila than pour his concentration in one district only.

LIM DARES RIVALS TO PROVE HE HAS NOT DONE A THING FOR MANILA

Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim this morning dared his political opponents to prove he has not done anything for Manila detailing his accomplishments in delivering free education, health care and peace and order.

Lim had a “Face Off: Young Voters Meet Young Statesmen” forum held at the Philippine Normal University Auditorium where his opponent, Avelino Razon participated.

Known as the father of free services, Lim stressed the revival of the city’s free education and healthcare. 

Lim said during his first incumbency, only one hospital the Ospital ng Maynila was built but he added three more hospitals: Ospital ng Sampaloc, Ospital ng Tondo and Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center.

In his second incumbency, Lim was able to build two more hospitals, Jose Abad Santos Mother and Child Hospital, inaugurated last December and President Corazon Aquino hospital, being constructed in the sixth district.  

To assure the maintenance of the city’s free health programs, the Mayor made sure that a standby fund was put up to ensure that these health facilities can give free hospital and free medicines not just to Manilans but also to its neighbors. 

“Kaya kami nagpalabas ng standby funds sa bawat ospital upang masigurado na hindi magkukulang ang mga gamot para sa mga pasyente at upang hindi magkulang ang mga gamit na kakailanganin,” Lim said.

Lim said he is proud of the six city hospitals that he has put up, with the one for the 6^th district that is still being built rising up to 10 storeys located at the former Trinity Hospital along New Panaderos Street .

On education, Lim said he is providing free education for primary, secondary and tertiary education with some of these being expanded to accommodate more students living nearby. He said for example the City College of Manila now accommodates 14,500 students. 

Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) also one of the city’s university that cater to free education for bright but poor students.

Expected participant Lito Atienza declined the invitation of PNU students during the face-off. A move which is not the first as he also backed out from recent debate invitations from ANC & Radio Veritas, to name a few.

Also present in the PNU Forum were Vice Mayor Isko Moreno who is running for Vice mayor re-election, Coun. Clarissa “Bonjay” Isip, vice-mayoral candidate, Atty. Vladimir Cabigao, councilor aspirant. Isip and Cabigao are both under Atienza’s team.