Isko’s sleepless task: Keep Lacson Underpass open 24 hours

MANILA, Philippines—Incoming Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso continued to provide a sneak peek into how he would govern the country’s capital, saying on Monday (June 17) that he would keep one of the city’s most iconic structures, Lacson Underpass, open 24 hours.

Domagoso said vendors who would refuse to cooperate with the new policy would have to leave.

“I will guarantee you, it will be open 24 hours a day,” the young mayor said.

Domagoso, who beat pardoned plunder convict Joseph Estrada by a landslide, said he received complaints from senior citizens about having difficulty reaching Quiapo Church because the underpass follows the schedule of malls.

The mayor-elect said he would “give back Lacson Underpass to the people of Manila.”

The underpass was renovated in a project that took 10 months to finish in 2014 under the term of outgoing Mayor Estrada.

The makeover gave the underpass glass doors at six entrances accessible from Quezon Boulevard, Hidalgo Street, Arlegui Street and Quiapo Church. Street vendors were given spaces. (Editor: Tony Bergonia)