Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada wants another shot at Manila’s mayoralty in the 2019 elections.
The 79-year-old Estrada on Thursday said he has decided to run again because he needs more time to realize his vision of bringing back Manila’s “old glory” through the three big-ticket reclamation projects that are under way in Manila Bay.
“I might be forced to run again… because I need to finish all that I need to do,” Estrada said during the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Philippine Reclamation Authority and UAA Kinming Group for the construction of the 407.42-hectare New Manila Bay International Community commercial and residential center.
“Yes, until I bring back the old glory of Manila, the ‘Pearl of the Orient.’ I have not done it yet. There’s lack of time,” the mayor said of his desire to run for a third straight term, the most allowed for a local government executive under the law.
Estrada also denied saying he would not be running again in the next elections.
“I did not say that, maybe it was just Isko who said that,” he pointed out, referring to his erstwhile ally, former vice mayor Isko Moreno.
As to Moreno challenging him in 2019, he said: “It’s easy to run, but difficult to win.”
The mayor said he has yet to see a strong contender for his seat in 2019. Since the current vice mayor and his 2016 running mate, Honey Lacuña, appears to have severed ties with him, Estrada said he will choose a new political partner in the proper time.
“I do not know yet. There are a lot of applicants. I will just announce it later. Too early for politics. We need to work first. Not like the others who are already campaigning. I pity the nation,” Estrada stressed.
The former actor-turned public servant—who rose from the ranks to become the country’s 13th President from 1998 to 2001—said he is devoting his time to his constituents, and he has no time to seriously think about politics this early.
“Work first. Help our countrymen. I am fixing the problems of the police, problems in peace and order. Politics will come later,” Estrada said.
Since assuming office in 2013, Estrada has embarked on a massive urban renewal program to clean up and beautify the capital city.
The proposed New Manila Bay International Community mixed-use commercial center is one of the three multibillion-peso reclamation projects Estrada has approved to spur Manila’s economic growth.
The other two are the 148-hectare Solar City urban center of the Manila Goldcoast Development Corp. and the P7.4-billion expansion of the Manila Harbour Centre in Tondo by the construction firm R-II Builders Inc.
UAA Kinming said its project is “a city within a city” that will house future developments and a host of new businesses and tourism and entertainment facilities.
“The city government will not spend a single centavo in these projects, so I thank President Duterte for approving all these three reclamation ventures,” Estrada said.
With this new business district, Estrada said the city government will be able to invite more local and foreign investors in Manila that will in turn bring in more tax revenues for the city and thousands of job opportunities for Manileños.