LIM LAUNCHES BASECO PLAYGROUND 3

Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim inaugurated Saturday morning the new  Baseco playground 3, at Baseco Compound in line with his priority program of providing children with wholesome entertainment areas to spend their free time in. The blessing was presided by Rev. Fr. Willy Araña of San Agustin Parish.  

Public Recreations Bureau Director Deogracias Manimbo said the playground has an area of 250 square meters and this is the 9^th playground opened under Mayor Lim’s watch. Next to be inaugurated is the Sta. Ana and Sampaloc playgrounds.  

Lim said that playgrounds are for children and residents of Baseco to give them a chance to play with such equipment. “Ang mga anak ng mahihirap ay may karapatang makapaglaro ng mga modernized playground equipments. The playground is not only for children but also for parents to while their time away since the playgrounds are well lighted at night.  

He also requested the residents around the playground to maintain cleanliness and to take good care of the equipment.

“Bukod dito sa playground, magtatayo din kami ng health center at palengke na malinis at sementado para sa inyo upang hindi na kayo lalayo pa”.

Last December 2008, the city inaugurated the first Baseco playground and the second last February 2009.

He reiterated his sermon to the youth: “Strive to finish  college so that you will someday be professionals. Education is my main priority.” There are two universities in the city that provides free education namely Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila and City College of Manila.

“Yung Baseco High School building ay padadagdagan po natin ng rooms para first year to fourth year na ang mga papasok, para maglalakad na lamang sila at hindi na lalayo pa. Kaya natin ito ginagawa para sa kabutihan ng mga kabataan”.  He told the parents to take care and love their children and encourage them to pursue college degree.

LIM OFFICIATES 1ST MASS WEDDING AT CITY JAIL

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim officiated his first mass wedding of inmates at the Manila City Jail as mayor of Manila.

He wedded 17 couples in free civil wedding at the chapel inside the city jail.

Among those present were Bureau of Jail Management and Penology officers, City Civil Registrar Josefa Encarnacion Ocampo and Barangay Chairman Thelma Lim.

Ocampo said there were supposed to be 19 couples but they backed out because they did not meet the documentary requirements for a marriage license. Others did not pass the screening because they were already married and could not present a certificate of no marriage (CENOMAR) from the National Statistics Office, a document that proves person’s eligibility to marry.

Lim advised each couple to continue loving and caring for each other despite the status of their husbands/wives, as marriage is part of a completion to a happy and normal living.

CITY HALL TO RESORT TO ENERGY CONSERVATION THIS SUMMER

In view of a tight power supply this summer caused by the El Nino phenomenon, Manila City Electrician Engr. Ernesto Cuyugan issued the following energy conservation measures to be observed: turn off all lights at lunchtime (from 12 noon to 1 p.m.), minimize the use of air conditioning units; prohibit the use of flat iron, stoves and other heaters and playing of computer games.

The guidelines will take effect this March until May 31, 2010.

Cuyugan said the heavy use of electricity during summer is one of the reasons causing power circuit breaker tripping, fires and overloading or overheating of wires.

As Fire Month is observed nationwide during March, Cuyugan said employees must do their share in insuring safe usage of electricity this summer so that no overload or tripping will occur that would add to fires in the city.

Power consumption during summer normally increases by at least 25 percent with the use of more cooling appliances like aircons and electric fans.

This increased demand trigger massive brownouts because supply is hardly enough to meet demand, Cuyugan said adding that wanton use of electricity could lead to fire that will cause substantial damages to property and injury to humans.

Finally, Cuyugan said, all electrical equipment must be turned off and unplugged from the sockets after office hours.

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.

MINORS RESCUED, BAR CLOSED!

 

Four minors were saved last wednesday night by  joint rescue operation headed by Jay Dela Fuente, Head of Manila Department of Social Welfare (MDSW), District Special Project Unit (DSPU) and District Mobile Police Unit (DMPU), after receiving complaint filed by a certain Lima Manalon, a resident of 1206 Felix Huertas St., Sta. Cruz, Manila.

The complaint was about the troubling situation of her adopted daughter, Alice (not her real name), a 14 year old minor, and employed at Juicy Restaurant Bar located at Tejeron St., San Andres, Manila as Guest Relations Officer (GRO).

Upon further verification, said bar has in its employment, minors, who are served with liquors while attending to customers and are subjected to sexual abuse as defined under R.A. No. 7610.

Upon presenting the four minors to Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim yesterday, the Mayor led and personally served the closure of the said establishment employing minor Guest Relations Officer (GRO), ages 14 years old to 16 years old, by committing offense under Republic Act No.7610.

“Sumunod po tayo sa batas, h’wag  po natin gamitin ‘yung mga menor de edad na mga kabataan sa mga ganitong klaseng hanapbuhay,“ Lim said.                                 

 There were 9 rescued persons, including Alice, who were taken to the Reception Action Center (RAC) at Arroceros, Malate, Manila, for processing, verification of age and intake assessment. They underwent dental examination, which resulted to the positive verification of 4 females below 18 years of age. The rest who were confirmed to be adults were released upon proper presentation of pertinent documents. In the meantime, the rescued minors were taken into custody by MDSW, headed by Jay Dela Fuente.

“After this closure, we will file appropriate criminal charges against this establishment and/or its owners”  Dela Fuente said.

At 6:30 pm, Lim together with Bureau of Permits director Nelson Alivio and Manila Department of Social Welfare chief Jay dela Fuente, bearing the order for closure and duly accepted by the bar manager closed the establishment permanently.

Lim Helps Deceased Foreigner Held By Funeral Home

On December 15, 2009, a German national Klaus Wolff, late 50’s, was found dead in the bathroom of his condo unit along Roxas Boulevard, Manila.

After investigation and autopsy, Manila Police District (MPD) Homicide section SPO2 Dennis Javier endorsed the body to a funeral parlor in Blumentritt, Sta. Cruz, Manila. The man died from heart attack secondary to his illness, liver cirrhosis, which he had endured for years.

On a letter dated January 7, 2010, of the first secretary of the Consul Division of the German Embassy – Philippines, Mr. Klaus Mueller to Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, he cited that the family in Germany sent only Php20,000 to cover any expenses incurred in the funeral and burial of their relative. The bill sent by the funeral home was from P200,000 which went down to 100,000 pesos on provision that the body will be transferred and not cremated there.

Mayor Lim requested Mr. Mueller to come to his office so as to facilitate the release of the body of Wolff which has been in the ‘funenaria’ for more than 3 weeks. 

With the help of Captain Mar Reyes of the Manila City Hall Detachment, a special team went to have the body released to Mr. Mueller at an amount lower and far from the asking fee.

The body was immediately brought to the North cemetery where Mr. Peter Tamondong was waiting to facilitate the cremation under the instruction of Mayor Lim.

The fiancee was very grateful to Lim and the officials of the Manila city hall when they went out their way to help her and her late fiance.

On one hand, Mr. Mueller lauded Mayor Lim and his people for the swift action made to his fellow German. He said it was excellent for Manila to respond immediately to the need, especially of someone in a foreign land.

Reyes said that the city government under Mayor Lim has never been selective of the people they help, Whether they are Manilans or non-Manilans, local or alien.

LIM OPENS HIPPODROMO PLAYGROUND IN STA. MESA

Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim this morning inaugurated the new playground located at Hippodromo, Sta. Mesa, the first playground he is opening in 2010.

Public Recreation Bureau Director Engr. Deogracias Manimbo said the P3 million playground has an area of almost 900 square meters. After the inauguration of playground, the Mayor led in the tree planting with six Langka seedlings planted around the playground.

Lim reminded the residents to keep the playground clean and to take good care of the facilities for their children’s enjoyment.

Former Manila 6^th district Representative Sandy Ocampo called Mayor Lim as their hero for giving importance and love to the children of the city, particularly of Sta. Mesa.

Lim in turn commended Ocampo for his expression of support and his love for the future leaders of the country, which was earlier resisted by the community until it was finally pushed through.

Department heads present during the occasion were, City Engineer Armando Andres, City electrician Ernesto Cuyugan, Acting Manila Fire Marshal Felixberto Abrenica, Veterinary Inspection Board OIC Sonia Salmos and Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center director Dr. Fidel Chua.

Philhealth Card Project Continues in Manila

Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim led the distribution of Philhealth Cards to some 1,000 selected residents of Districts I and II at the covered court of Bgy 154 Zone 14 together with Manila District of Social Welfare OIC Jay dela Fuente and Rochelle Ann San Pedro Philhealth’s Chief Social Insurance Officer, Manila Service Office.

The Philhealth Card project is part of the 11-point agenda of the Manila Health Care Program as additional health assistance for the indigent residents of Manila .

According to Dela Fuente, more than 26,000 Philhealth cards were distributed to Manilans in the city’s six districts for the year 2009 alone.

Lim who continues to prioritize health programs, informed the recipients that through Philhealth, the card holders will not be worried about expenses in hospitalization for both private and government hospitals such as rooms, medicines, x-rays, laboratories and professional fee because it is being covered by the Philhealth.

Surgeon and Anesthesiologist are also covered by Philhealth as well as ambulatory services and procedures including chemotherapy, radiotherapy and dialysis.

Philhealth card holders will not only benefit from Philhealth as well also as their legal spouses, children below 21 years old who are not married and unemployed and parents who are above 60 (not receiving pensions) can also benefit from the card holder of Philhealth.

Rid Manila Of Vices, Drugs, Piracy, and Garbage – LIM

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim together with Manila Police District (MPD) Director Rodolfo Magtibay Jr., led the ‘operation clean-up’ of the streets in Manila.

In a briefing before the cleaning, Lim told the group of Police officers and city officials present, that they should open up their minds on the criticisms which may be brought about by such operation.

“Maraming magre-react dito sa paglilinis na gagawin natin. meron diyan na magagalit. Yung mga vendors, kailangan na talagang tanggalin. May ordinansa tayo di ba? Kailangan 1×1 lang ang size ng pwesto nila at between 6pm to 9pm lang sila pwede magtinda. Yung iba kasi extended hanggang madaling araw, iniiwan pa yung mga pwesto nila na nakakalat.”, Lim explained.

“At yung mga bagsakan ng mga paninda tulad ng prutas at gulay, nakakarumi kasi yan pag naiwan yung mga kalat. Bakit di na lang gawing bagsakan yung sa Road 10 tutal maluwag don. At sabihan nyo ang mga may-ari ng tindahan na linisin nila ang mga tapat nila lalo na sa mga palengke. Kung hindi sila susunod, ipasara nyo. May patakaran tayo dito, kung di tayo gagamit ng kamay na bakal sa mga ito at puro salita lang tayo,hindi susunod ang mga iyan,” he further instructed.

“Pati mga illegal terminals at yung pinaparadahan ng mga bus na hindi dapat, alisin na iyan.”

Lim ordered them to accelerate the cleaning-up not only of the roads and streets from garbage and illegal vendors but also eliminate all the vices especially jueteng, as he promised the anti-gambling advocate Bishop Cruz that Manila does not and will never tolerate jueteng.

“Tell Col. Tendero to also remove and confiscate the pirated cd’s and dvd’s not only the pornographic. Kunin na lahat iyan, porno o hindi, illegal iyan dahil pirated,” Lim added.

“Basta paigtingin natin ang campaign agains vices, drugs, at lahat ng illegal. Walang malakas malakas.” he concluded and went out in Ongpin St. to start sweeping the stretch to Avenida using broomsticks and garbage disposals and fire hoses front fire volunteers and Manila Fire Department.

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.