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.

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.

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.

LIM TELLS JUDGES: IMPROVE DISPENSATION OF JUSTICE

Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim, in his welcome remarks at the national convention and seminar of the Philippine Trial Judges League Inc. (PTJLI) held at the Grand Ballroom of the Century Park Hotel, urged the judges Thursday to”help improve the dispensation of justice in the country.”

With its theme ” Frontlining Judicial Independence and Moral Uprighteousness in the First Level Courts” Lim pointed out that the first level courts are truly the “front run in the quest for moral revolution.”

 “May this convention give you the time to reminisce and re-live once more your idealism and dedication felt immediately upon taking your oath of office,” Lim added.

 Lim (a lawyer) said appointing judges must be “insulated, as much as possible, from politics so that political patronage is avoided and the wrong perception against judges are minimized.”

 A former police officer, Lim spoke of how police officers can plant evidence or frame-up an innocent person just to report a case solved.

Most victims of such incidents belong to the lowest level of the society – the poor. “Kahit na hindi kumain ng tatlong beses sa isang araw basta’t huwag lang kami pagbibintangan sa isang kasalanan na hindi naming ginagawa”, Lim recalled the words of some poor victims of frame-up.

He cited the case of former precinct commander Col. Manolo Martinez who was killed and the suspect was framed up and presented to the media in order to get the bounty of P500,000.

 Later, the real suspect surfaced when he was arrested for killing a labor lawyer and the precinct commander.  And finally, the real suspect was a member of the New People’s Army.

Having shared these examples, he asked the judges to immediately acquit the suspects that police or fiscals bring to them since “this is the true sense of justice. Let them prove their innocence before your sala.”

You hold in your hands, the proper dispensation of cases. Without your cooperation and intrinsic desire to give justice to all, then justice will always be questioned.

“I hope that there will be no more frame ups but if you come across such instance, the first line of defense of an innocent person who is searching and wanting to give them the justice rests with you,” he said.