Isko wants poor families to have same amenities accorded to rich

Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso in one of his Listening Tours. Contributed photo

MANILA, Philippines — Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso said given the chance to be president, the national government would embark on in-city vertical housing projects for the country’s urban informal settlers, and build more public hospitals and school buildings for ordinary Filipinos.

“Disenteng pabahay, ospital, paaralan. Kung ano ang ginawa ko sa Maynila, gagawin natin sa buong bansa. Dahil gusto kong maiparamdam sa isang mahirap ang nararamdaman ng isang mayaman,” said Moreno.

The Aksyon Demokratiko presidential bet made the pronouncement in a dialog with more than a thousand former informal settlers who were beneficiaries of housing units in PAR Homes 3, an in-city housing project in Barangay La Huerta, Parañaque City.

“Hindi naman kaila sa inyo kung saan ako galing. Kaya ang una kong ginawa nang ako’y maging alkalde ng Maynila ay ibalik ang dignidad sa isang mahirap na pamilya. 10-story, 42 square meters, 2-bedroom, may elevator pa. Alam niyo naman siguro yung Tondominium at Binondominium,” said Moreno, who is a former informal settler himself.

Moreno was referring to Tondominium 1 and 2 which are situated in Tondo, one of the most densely populated districts in the Philippine capital, and one of the world’s largest slums.

Set to be completed by the end of this year, the two residential buildings have a combined total of 336 two-bedroom apartment units, each with a size of 44 square meters.

Binondominium 1 and 2 meanwhile are set to be completed by January next year, while Basecommunity was completed last July.

Just recently, the city government broke ground for the San Lazaro Residences, Pedro Gil Residences and the San Sebastian Residences.

The housing projects are all situated in the city’s slum areas to accommodate urban poor and informal settlers, and give them the advantage of remaining near their places of work and livelihood.

Besides more socialized housing programs, Moreno said his government would also embark on building more hospitals and more public-school buildings for the ordinary people, again similar to those he established in Manila which are modernized facilities complete with amenities like those found in private hospitals and schools.

“Pag kayo ay nadaan sa Roxas Boulevard, may tinatag po dun, 10-storey, fully airconditioned bagong Ospital ng Maynila.  Yung equipment, yung mga gamit, kung ano ang mayron sa St Luke’s, yun din ang gamit sa amin,” Morneo said.

And just last October, Moreno led the groundbreaking ceremonies for the three-story, 50-bed President Corazon C. Aquino General Hospital in Baseco compound where Basecommunity is located.

Once completed, it will be the city’s seventh public hospital besides the Bagong Ospital ng Maynila, Ospital ng Sampaloc, Ospital ng Tondo, Sta. Ana Hospital, Justice Abad Santos Medical Center, and Gat Andres Bonifacio Medical Center.

The Manila City government is also currently constructing 10-story fully airconditioned buildings in Rosauro Almario Elementary School, Manila Science High School, and the Albert School that included a 1.5-hectare land development.

Moreno said oil and electricity taxes would also be cut by half to cushion the socio-economic effects of the pandemic.

While this may cost the government in P130 billion in foregone revenue, Moreno said the twin tax cuts would bring immediate relief to ordinary Filipinos in the form of lower cost of food, lower transportation fares, and higher income, among others.

“Magparaya naman ang gobyerno para ang tao ay maramdaman na may gobyerno na nakikinig sa kanila. Uunahin muna natin ang tao, maibsan muna ang dinaranas na hirap ng tao, maitawid muna sila,” he said.

“Pataasin ang antas ng tao. Yan ang aaasahan niyo sa unang dalawang taon. Yun ang gobyernong mararanasan ninyo kung kami, sa awa ng Diyos at sa tulong ninyo, ay maupo,” Moreno said.

JPV