MANILA, Philippines — Incoming Manila Mayor Isko Moreno appealed to private schools in the city to cooperate with the local government during the suspension of classes.
“Sa mga presidente ng mga pribadong unibersidad, nakikisuyo ako sa inyo. Kapag ang lokal na pamahalaan nagsabi na walang pasok, makiisa na po kayo,” Moreno said in a weekly media forum on Tuesday.
While private schools are operated independently and are not administered by the local government, Moreno argued that being “autonomous” should not be at the expense the students’ welfare.
“Wala namang problema kung autonomous. You want to be autonomous at the expense of the safety of the students? of Manilans, and those people who will visit Manila?,” he said.
“Walang autonomous sa Section 16 ng Local Government Code,” he added.
He was referring to the General Welfare clause of Section 16 under the Local Government Code, which states that “[e]very local government unit shall exercise the powers expressly granted, those necessarily implied therefrom, as well as powers necessary, appropriate, or incidental for its efficient and effective governance, and those which are essential to the promotion of the general welfare.”
“Naawa nga ako sa mga estudyante dahil ang estudyante talaga, umaasa ngayon sa pamahalaan. And this is our commitment that we will state the situation of the city ahead of time. It’s our promise,” Moreno said.
“Kaya nga ho nananawagan kami sa mga unibersidad, sana po naman…kapag nagdeklara na ang Maynila ng walang pasok, makiisa po kayo,” he added. (Editor: Mike U. Frialde)