NextGen Day

MANILA, Philippines — During a public forum conducted by De La Salle University (DLSU) on Wednesday, three of Manila’s six mayoral contenders faced off in front of the city’s residents, presenting their platforms, plans, and projects.

Former representative Amado Bagatsing, lawyer Alex Lopez, and retired general Elmer Jamias were among the mayoral hopefuls who answered questions directly from Manila citizens and organizers.

The three candidates were unified in their belief that the city needed more transparent leadership and government.

Bagatsing stated that it is time to restore Manila’s vibrancy in order to help businesses recover from the coronavirus disease pandemic of 2019 (Covid-19).

As a result of the pandemic’s lessons, he believes that people’s health should be prioritized as he prepares to create a diagnostic center in the city.

“Ang liberated at lalapit ko sa community ang access sa health facilities.” Aalagaan ko ang kalusugan nila sa buong Manilenyo (I would make health facilities more accessible and free to the communities.) I will look after the health of all Manila citizens),” Bagatsing added.

Bagatsing bragged about his Kabalikat ng Bayan sa Kaunlaran (KABAKA) organization, which he started in 1985 and which provided medical aid, outreach activities, and nutrition-feeding programs for children in impoverished areas.

If he is given the chance to run the city, he says he will develop programs to reach out to more people.

Meanwhile, Lopez chastised the present city administration for the divisive “sneaky” sale of the Divisoria market, which will result in the displacement of a number of local sellers.

According to documents obtained by Lopez, the municipal administration sold the 3,701.70 square meter Divisoria market to Festina Holdings for PHP1.446 billion in 2020, apparently without adequate engagement with the traders who will be affected.

Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, the mayor of Manila and the presidential candidate of the Aksyon Demokratiko, previously stated that the fund was used by the city government to address the Covid-19 pandemic by building the Manila Covid-19 Field Hospital, among other things, and that the vendors were properly informed of the sale.

Lopez denied this, highlighting the need of public leaders’ transparency and responsibility.

“Kailangan magkaisa tayo, but hindi natatapos sa pagkakaisa,” says the narrator. (We need to unite, but it doesn’t end there.) Kailangan ang mga maling nakikita ay iwasto at sa ngayon napakaraming maling nangyayari It’s also critical to remedy wrongdoings that we observe, and there are a lot of them right now),” he added. “We’re trying to file an annulment lawsuit as well as a prospective plunder case right now.”

Meanwhile, Jamias said that, despite being a first-time candidate for public office, he has spent much of his life as a police officer.

If given the chance, he promised to never stay in his office and instead “walk down to every sector of the City of Manila” on a regular basis to personally inspect what is going on.

“Managot, pagka-mali.” Bigyan ng insentibo kapag gumagawa ng tama (Those who have done wrong should be punished.) Give an incentive if someone accomplishes something excellent). “It’s a check and balance,” Jamias explained.

According to the event organizers, Honey Lacuna-Pangan, the incumbent Manila Vice Mayor who is currently running for mayor, was unable to attend due to a scheduling conflict.

She did, however, send a video message promising to continue the projects that Domagoso had started.

The Task Force Safe Schools, in collaboration with the DLSU Committee on National Issues and Concerns and the La Salle Institute of Governance, hosted the discussion.

Two mayoral candidates, Cristina Lim-Raymundo, daughter of late mayor Alfredo Lim, and independent candidate Onofre Abad, were also invited but did not show up.

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