Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Monday led the flag raising ceremony at the Andres Bonifacio Shrine, the first time it was ever held at the national hero’s monument beside the Manila City Hall.
The ceremony was held a week after the City Engineer’s Office cleaned the monument that regularly saw human feces and urine around it by flushing it with water, plenty of soap, bleaching products, and muriatic acid to remove all traces of odor.
Domagoso also ordered the removal of some 58 stalls obstructing the path of pedestrians at the Kartilya ng Katipunan Park, where a monument of national hero Emilio Jacinto could be found.
The monument was neglected for more than six years, as hundreds of stalls and eateries were put up during the term of then-Mayor Joseph Estrada.
For her part, Manila Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna said she was delighted because it was the first time that Manila City hall employees experienced the flag raising ceremony at the shrine, stressing the place should be respected and not dishonored as a de facto comfort room.
During the flag raising ceremony, Domagoso also promised to give local government employees the benefits that are due them.
He said he would give them allowances that had been withheld in the past, as well as promotions to deserving employees.
“What is due to you will be given to you,” Domagoso said.
The mayor instructed the city’s finance department to pay the city government’s obligations to its employees first before paying commercial contracts.