LIM INSPECTS CCM ANNEX IN ESCOLTA

Following a complaint of a concerned student who wrote him about the sorry state of the City College of Manila annex building in Escolta, Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim took with him key officials of the city to conduct an ocular inspection of the toilets and other facilities to ensure that they are kept in tip top shape for a better learning environment to students.

Lim brought with him Secretary to the Mayor, Atty. Rafaelito Garayblas, Chief of Staff Ricardo de Guzman, City Engineer Armando Andres, City Electrician Engr. Ernesto Cuyugan, City Health Officer, Dr. Marie Lorraine Sanchez and CCM’s Dean of Business Administration Elena Cernias.

A concerned student wrote the Mayor and submitted photos of the dilapidated and unhygienic state of the comfort rooms, which prompted the Mayor to immediately go to the site himself right after the department heads and chiefs of offices (DEHECHO) meeting Monday morning.

In a dialogue that followed the inspection, Lim invited all the female students to Dean Cernias’ office and ordered them to use, for the meantime, the toilet of the dean, for emergency purposes, until such time that restoration work is completed within two weeks. He also asked his Secretary, Garayblas, concurrent president of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, to check the conditions of all the toilets in the university.

This CCM building in Escolta, originally belonging to the Philippine National Bank, was built in 1995 and when the city took over it was converted into a school for poor but average students. The Mayor plans to rehabilitate the facilities of the school,  but the first priority must be the comfort rooms. 

During his meeting with the students, Lim recalled some success stories of former students who graduated at City College of Manila such as one who graduated cum laude in Criminology and placed 9th in the board. Another is lady who now works in a multinational company and tied the knot with a Singaporean businessman. Now she is supporting her parents and younger siblings in their studies. 

The lesson here is to study, study and study so that you will achieve your lofty goals in life. As the saying goes success comes with perseverance and hard work. “Kaya lahat kayo pagbutihan ninyo ang pag-aaral, there is time for everything. Your time now is to study hard,” he said.

LIM INAUGURATES NEW SCHOOL BUILDING

 

Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim this morning led the ribbon cutting that formally opened the four-story, 3,024 square meter building of the Tondo High School.

He was accompanied by Vice Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso and Cong. Ben Asilo, both products of Manila public high schools, along with Mayor Lim.

The new building has 10 classrooms located at the second and third floors while the fourth floor is the multi-purpose hall. On the ground floor is an open area. Each floor has two toilets– for girls and boys.

The blessing was officiated by Rev. Fr. Eduardo Hila, assistant parish priest Don Bosco Parish.

The city spent P70 million for the building. 

The new building is a symbol of the care and concern of the dynamic and able leadership of Lim and Domagoso.

Domagoso is a product of Tondo High School, who praised his alma mater for molding him into what he is now.

Congressman Asilo is also a product of public school as he showed his debt of gratitude to the city public school system.

Lim said the new building is dedicated to students, teachers and school principal. The Mayor said he is a product of the P. Gomez Elementary School.

He said one of his priority is education which is why I am putting up new school buildings, elementary and high schools.

The Mayor said education is the only way out of poverty and the road to a brighter future. “Strive to finish not just grade school or high school but college as well, which are provided by the city free to Manilans. Who knows, 50 years from now, the next leader will come from this school, just like me and vice mayor”, he added.

Lim stressed that the building was paid by taxpayers money as he reminded the students and teachers to maintain it properly.

Also present during the inauguration were: City Engineer Armando Andres, City School Superintendent Dr. Ponciano Menguito, Tondo High School principal Wenifrida Lazarte-Lagman, assistant superintendents, teachers, students, and department heads.

10th CITY LIBRARY OPENS IN MANILA

Another public library for the residents of Manila was inaugurated at the Patricia Sports Complex Thursday morning as part of Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim’s 11-point agenda on the improvement of education.　

Mayor Lim’s vision of bringing the city closer to the people made Patricia Sports Complex a perfect example where the compound is comprised of basketball court, children’s playground, satellite office, day care center, health center, fitness gym and the latest addition of a public library.

　

According to City Librarian Helen Grace Cacho the Patricia library is the 10^th public library in the city and the first in the 2^nd district which is located at the 3^rd floor of Patricia Sports Complex.

　

Cacho also said that the library is the third public library that is fully air conditioned aside from Fugoso and Paco Libraries.

　

Mayor’s Complaint and Action Team Chief Col Franklin Gacutan (Ret) who represented in behalf of the mayor said that residents should encourage the youths especially the out-of-school youths to spend some time in the library as one way to gain more knowledge.

　

The Patricia library has reference books such as encyclopedias, dictionaries, almanacs and other book and toy collections for children, mathematics, sciences and a children section would look like a semi day-care and a semi recreational section.

　

The city library has also “Manilañana Collection” where they collect different facts, news articles or books about the City of Manila.　 It also has subscription to different current newspapers from broadsheets to tabloids for those who wanted to be updated on the events around the globe.

　

As Gacutan’s parting words to the parents and some children of the day care centers, he told them to look at the mayor as a living example of a person or leader where money was never a hindrance to education and success.

　

Accompanying Gacutan and Cacho in the inauguration were 3^rd district Representative Jaime Lopez, Ruben Yu and Rev Fr Ferdie Fajardo, Parish Priest of St. Joseph and some city department heads.

 

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 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.

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.

MANILA HOSTS NCR PALARO 2010

For the first time, the City of Manila will host the NCR Palaro 2010 with Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim and City School superintendent Dr.  Ponciano Menguito joining the parade that will kick off the NCR Palaro 2010. Lim will also give his opening remarks at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

The 2010 Dep-Ed NCR Palaro will be held from February 15-19 at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex and other selected venues which the City of Manila will be the host. The Palaro will be participated in by athletes and officials from the different public and private schools of Metro Manila both in elementary and high school levels.

 The NCR Palaro 2010 parade starts at 2 p.m. Saturday at Raja Sulayman, Baywalk Roxas Boulevard , Manila going to Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, using Ninoy Aquino Stadium Gate on February 15,2010. The parade will be participated by school heads, city officials, athletes, coaches, and game officials. The Manila delegation is 526 consist of athletes, coaches and trainors.  

The participating schools are from: Caloocan , Las Pinas, Makati , Malabon, Navotas, Mandaluyong, Marikina , Muntinlupa, Paranaque , Pasay , Pasig , Quezon City , San Juan , Taguig, pateros, and Valenzuela.

The following sports events are athletic, basketball, baseball, gymnastics, swimming, tennis, badminton, volleyball, arnis, table tennis, taekwondo, boxing, football, sipa, chess, sepak, and archery.

LIM CLOSES AND ORDERS IMMEDIATE CONSTRUCTION OF SCHOOL ANNEX

Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim Wednesday ordered the immediate closure and demolition of the Dr. Juan Nolasco High School annex and ordered the immediate construction of a new building in a dialogue with  the officers and faculty of said school.

The Nolasco High School Annex is a four- story building composed of eight classrooms in the third and fourth floors being used by the TLE students; the first floor is clerical and property custodian room and the second floor is were the library located.

The school annex has been condemned by building officials of City Hall because it is deteriorated.

 Lim instructed the city engineering office to demolish the Nolasco High School Annex,and prioritize the construction of a new five story building.

He also asked the relocation of squatters within the perimeter and also a construction of a footbridge which will traverse the Pritil estero for the benefit of the students, faculty and the community, thereby reducing the transportation budget of students to and from school

.

Lim wants the construction of a building to be before June 2010 to ensure that more than 4,000 students will have a more livable and conducive place of learning. He stress that education is one of his priority agenda of governance.  

He also told the teachers to conduct a practice for the students on fire drills and earthquake drills.

LIM TELLS TEACHERS TO AVOID ELECTIONEERING

 

Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim emphasized to all teachers and other government employees present at Justo Lukban Elementary School not to be involved in any electioneering because it is against the law.

“Huwag kayo mangangampanya para sa akin dahil bawal sa batas yon”,  Lim added in his speech during the walk for a cause activity by the Division of City Schools headed by Superintendent Dr. Ponciano Menguito Tuesday morning.

“Lakad Kabataan…Isulong ang Katarungan” is the activity’s main theme and as the famous slogan of Mayor Lim “The Law applies to all otherwise none at all”, Lim told students that “Justice is for all.  We should respect the law.”

Lim told everyone present that justice must be done not only in words but in action as well.

The walk which was joined by hundreds of students coming from primary and secondary schools in the 5^th district was also joined by Manila Sports Council Chairman Niño dela Cruz and 5^th district Councilor Josefina Siscar.

Dela Cruz said that we should make it a point everyday that any form of justice must be served everyday.

Also last Monday, Lim led the walk under the theme “Lakad Kabataan…Isulong ang Kapayapaan” around the 6^th district of Manila where they started in Sta. Ana Elementary School .

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.