The 29th Mayor of Manila, Francisco “Isko” Domagoso Moreno, delivered his inaugural address on July 1 at Manila City Hall, where he shared his newly signed executive orders, short and medium-term strategies, and disclosed the city’s financial situation.
In his speech, Moreno said that the slogan “Make Manila Great Again” is not just a dream but a comprehensive governance platform backed by “clear, short, medium, and long-term development plans.”
“Magsisimula tayo sa lansangan [...] A street level of action, and I call this street smart governance. Garbage on the streets must be collected. Crimes on the streets must be stopped,” he noted.
Budget deficit, unpaid contracts
Moreno acknowledged the city’s limited budget for street clean-up, citing ₱900 million unpaid obligations to Leonel Waste Management Corporation since February.
He also criticized the previous administration’s handling of business permits, saying that instead of the Bureau of Permits’ oversight of processes, the Secretary to the Mayor created a group under his supervision to handle permit processing, leading to delays and pushing business owners to set up their businesses outside Manila.
“Ibabalik natin sa Bureau of Permits ang kanilang mandato upang muling maging mabilis ang proseso ng permit,” he stated.
Unauthorized cash advances
To improve the city’s finances, Moreno plans to bring back the Fiscal Accountability, Cost Transparency, and Spending (FACTS) Task Force. “Based on numbers, we have been leaning on fiscal solvency,” he stated, declaring that finances are in the state of “ICU.”
Moreover, he shared that the budget deficit sums up to ₱4.6 billion, “Kaya nabitin ang mga bayarin at proyekto.”
As of June 5, the city has ₱10 billion to disburse to the people, including funds for social amelioration programs, medicines, garbage hauling, and more, but a deficit left by previous administrations is holding things back.
Furthermore, Moreno exposed unauthorized cash advances made by city hall employees, naming: Jonathan Garzo, ₱132 million; Joy Dawis-Asuncion, ₱683 million; Fernan B. Bermejo, ₱641 million; Marlon M. Lacson, ₱1.161 billion.
Executive orders effective immediately
Upon assumption of office, Moreno announced the five executive orders he had signed. Executive Order No. 1 mandates that all officials and employees of the City of Manila serve as models of good manners and proper conduct. Executive Order No. 2 enforces a curfew for minors from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. Executive Order No. 3 directs all barangay officials to lead simultaneous canal de-clogging activities every Saturday. Executive Order No. 4 enforces regulations on modified muffler noise from motor vehicles. Lastly, Executive Order No. 5 requires telecommunications and cable providers to fix “spaghetti wires.”
In the next few months, he plans to finish 10 medium-term Comprehensive Strategies including: Drainage Master Plan, Underground Cabling Project, Cohesive Urban Environment for Public Spaces Project, Public Transport Improvement Plan, Transit-Oriented Development, Manila Smart City Initiative, Disaster Resilience Project, Preservation of Cultural Heritage and Identity of Manila Project, In-city Vertical Housing, and School Building.
While for short-term, he plans to finish five plans: Construction of the 15-storey Condominium 2 in San Nicolas, Reconstruction of the Old Ospital ng Maynila, Redevelopment of Lawton Underpass and Ermita, Revitalization of Plaza Azul in Pandacan, and One Classroom, One Smart TV Program.
To end the address, Moreno stated, “Ang hinihiling ko lang sa inyo: disiplina, progresyon. Paggalang sa inyong gobyerno ng lungsod dahil hindi ko ito magagawa mag-isa.”
