Bringing back Manila to its old glory would be a gargantuan task for re-elected Manila Mayor, former President Joseph Estrada—more popularly known to film buffs as “Erap”—because life is building fresh successes on past achievements.
Estrada, who will lead today’s celebration of Manila’s 445th founding anniversary, has envisioned a more illustrious and modern city, but one that remembers history, as he rehabilitates and reconstructs old buildings and structures around the city.
In an interview, Estrada admitted that bringing the past back would be impossible, but making the present benefit the millions of Manilenos is feasible and will make young Filipinos proud.
He said that clinging to the past is useless, and giving way to technological advancements is the only way to go.
The mayor said his administration lifted the city government from bankruptcy, which stemmed from alleged mismanagement and corruption during the administration of his predecessor.
He said that under his leadership, the local government has paid its debt of P57 million to Maynilad Water Services Inc., another P650 million in electricity charges as well as P4.4-billion tax liabilities.
Estrada has a 10-point agenda that is posted on the city’s website manila.gov.ph. First on the agenda is peace and order, which the mayor wishes to improve by reviving its police force, Manila’s Finest. The next concern is the health of the citizens, which will be addresses by sufficient medicine and affordable health care services. On Estrada’s housing agenda is the provision of decent shelter for the poor within the city. To fill transportation needs and solve traffic, the mayor proposes to improve and clean up roads, bridges and rivers. Related to this is cleanliness, which will be maintained through efficient collection and disposal of garbage. Through his program for education, Estrada hopes to make Manila a “center of academic excellence.” To give the city’s youth a wholistic education, the mayor is working to boost sports development in all its districts. Estrada said his style of governance is “tapyasan ang labis,” i.e. an efficient distribution of resources where they are most needed. Transparency, he defines as faithful and honest public service. And the 10th point on his agenda is people participation to realize the administration’s plans.
In the past three years, Manila’s chief executive said, he made it the most competitive city and has reduced crime incidence and raised crime solution and efficiency.
Estrada added that he paid P5 billion in city debts and improved health services for the masses. In fact, the city spent more than P100 million for Philippine Health Insurance Corporation membership of the city’s 42,000 poor in 2015 and increased it to P142 million during 2016.
The City also invested in human capital, so that his administration was able to build 22 schools; while the public school teachers’ incomes were hiked.
Among his achievements is the modernization and rehabilitation of seven city public markets, i.e. the San Andres market, Trabaho Market, Sampaloc market, Quinta market, Sta Ana Market, Central Market and Paco market.
The Manila mayor said that when he first assumed office, cash on hand was only P230 million, which was not enough to run the city or meet the payroll of city hall personnel for a month.
With Manila hosting more than two million people, dirty, with a high crime rate and plagued with traffic, he immediately instituted reforms, including boosting the city coffers.
He updated the property taxes and doubled real-estate taxes, angering many businessmen. Revenues improved from P3.04 billion in 2012 to PP6.7 billion in 2015.
Crime incidence has fallen from 11,468 in 2102 to 8,842 in 2015, with the cooperation of barangay officials, the police and the residents. Estrada also gave the police force P136 million in back allowances. The Manila police district received 41 new mobile patrol cars and 110 electric personal transporters.
Only last year, Estrada declared a 14th-month incentive pay for all city employees, on top of the 13th-month pay.
Estrada said the city government is also planning to buy more lands for the construction of barangay halls, which are mostly located on sidewalks.
Estrada plans to regain ownership of Metropolitan Theater, Manila’s cultural landmark which was taken by former first Lady Imelda Marcos during Martial Law.
The cultural icon is being remodeled to give rise to a blackbox theater, galleries and exhibit halls, lounges and open spaces.
Also to be developed is the Pasig River Promenade to revive the Escolta-Intramuros Boardwalk with riverside walkways, shops and gardens.