Former President and Manila Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada said that it’s easy for him to remove the vendors anytime like what his successor Isko Moreno is currently doing.

However, he explained that during his term as the Mayor, he’s also thinking about the welfare of the unfortunate illegal vendors if they’re going to lose their only business.

According to Estrada, he wanted to ensure that the City Government of Manila could give new businesses among the illegal vendors before clearing operations.

“Kung ‘yung sasabihin mo sa’kin na yung mga vendors nalinis, naayos lahat e hindi ko kayang gawin yun hangga’t walang kapalit na hanap-buhay sila,” Estrada said in an interview with GMA News.

“Kayang-kaya. Utusan mo lang hindi ba puwedeng sumunod sa mayor ang pulis saka mga bumbero? Orderan mo lang ‘yan. Sandali lang ‘yun, pero isipin mo naman yung damage na kawawa naman yung mga mahihirap dun lang umaasa sa pagkain nila, sabi ko nga hungry stomach knows no law,” he added.

Estrada also insisted that he’s doing cleaning operations around Manila, but not publicizing it on media like what Moreno is doing.

But according to the current Mayor of Manila, most of the illegal vendors operating around Metro Manila are not poor people because they could afford to bribe the so-called ‘organizers’ to let them operate businesses even in the middle of the streets.

“Let’s be honest, 95 % sa kanila [illegal vendors] hindi mahirap,” Moreno said.

“Alam mo kung bakit? If they can afford to pay 30,000 pesos para sa isang maliit na lamesa for rights.. rights lang to sell… they can afford 350 pesos a day and 500 pesos a day para kay “Eddie at Patty’,” he added.

“Eddie and Patty”, a slang popularized by the Mayor to refer the people receiving bribes in Manila.

A former President of Coca Cola Bottlers Philippines expressed his disappointment towards Iceland for leading the resolution to investigate the Duterte administration over alleged EJKs.

In a lengthy social media post, Mr. Bæring Olafsson, an Icelander doing businesses in the Philippines told Iceland that President Duterte is only doing his duty to protect the lives of innocent civilians against the dangers of drugs.

He labeled the resolution filed by Iceland in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) as ‘utterly wrong’ saying that other countries should not interfere with the Philippines.

The Icelander businessman believes that not only the Philippines could experience interference from the UNHRC.

Olafsson also told his country about the developments happening in the Philippines under the Duterte administration.

How about trying to understand how much the Philippines has developed forward in the last few years with high economic growth, huge infrastructure projects going on and development of order and peace going on many fronts,” he said.

“There are full democracy and full freedom of speech and activities in all aspects of life in the Philippines and there are no Human Rights issues here at all. The only Human Rights Violations here are the Drug barons and gangs that victimize people at will and President Duterte has taken them on and has more than 80% of the population supporting him in doing so,” he added.

“I am not proud to be an Icelander here in the Philippines today. Personally, I apologize for this misstep of my Country Iceland.” he also said.

Several days ago UNHRC approved the resolution filed by Iceland urging the organization to investigate the Philippines.

As a response, the Philippine government said that they’re seriously considering cutting ties with Iceland.

However, President Duterte is also thinking about Filipino workers in Iceland that might get affected if the Philippines decided to end its friendship with the said European country.

Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno is planning to build a state-of-the-art public hospital that could match the world-class Makati Medical Center.

During a press conference together with the Department of Health (DOH) officials, Moreno bared his plan to build a public hospital that could give excellent healthcare to all Manilenyos without paying a cent.

Isko said that he’s dreaming for Manila to have a big hospital because, during his youth, his family cannot afford to buy medicines regularly because of being poor.

Moreno only earns money during his younger days by collecting garbages around the streets of Manila.

“I know the feeling na walang pera nanay mo, naglalabada, kinakapos dahil ang daming nagkakasakit. I was there and I know the feeling,” said Moreno

“And that’s why our goal subliminally is the facility na mararamdaman man lang ng isang mahirap na tao na hanggang sa huling sandali, nakatikim man lang siya ng konting kaginhawaan sa buhay bago man lang pumikit ang kanyang mga mata.” he added.

According to the plan, the new Hospital of Manila will be fully airconditioned the windows will face Manila Bay so it would give a relaxing view to the patients admitted there.

The old building will also be converted to the College of Medicine of the Pamantasang Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM).

However, he said that he cannot build the hospital right away because they’re still looking for a sufficient budget to finance it.

He’s also planning to directly deliver the medicines to the needy without passing it to other public officials.

“We will modernize our system with regard to resources of our hospitals. Hindi na mauuso sa Maynila na may idedeliver na gamot at yung gamot ay idedeliver sa isang sports complex at hindi directly sa end user. It happened. It cannot be denied,” said Moreno.

While Manilenyos are enjoying the beautification being performed by their Mayor, another City is also being cleaned by its newly elected leader.

Cebu Mayor Edgar Labella are trying to improve the image of his City by cleaning up Quezon Boulevard.

The said boulevard in Cebu is the equivalent of Divisoria in Manila where many illegal vendors are also operating along the area.

In the photos posted by Labella, it showed the poor condition of Quezon Boulevard, tons of garbages are only beside the businesses and residents walking around the area.

But after the cleaning operations, the beauty of Quezon Boulevard came back, and cars can now pass the area.

“This is the new face of a portion of Unit III, M.L. Quezon Blvd. After clearing operations by the Cebu City Market Operations Division, PROBE, Department of Public Services, Brgy. Ermita, Carbon Police Station and Cebu City Transportation Office.” Labella said.

Aside from cleaning operations, Labella also bared his plan to convert the Malacanang sa Sugbo to a ‘world-class museum’.

The said building is currently owned by the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

Labella won the Cebu election against Osmena who became viral several weeks ago after the latter left nothing in the Mayor’s Office of the City.

The Cebu City Mayor is a close friend of President Duterte and a member of PDP-Laban.

To provide jobs for the poor, the Manila City Government is planning to bring back the Metro Aide program which architected by former first lady Imelda Marcos during the 1970s.

This is the third program from the Marcos administration that being planned by Moreno to be revived.

In a past interview, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno described the metro aide program as a good provider of jobs and at the same time, it also helped to clean Manila City.

Photo: Imelda Marcos official website

According to him, Metro Aides are going to be considered as regular employees of the government so they can avail benefits.

“I’ll bring back metro aide. Alam natin na magaling ang metro aide noong araw. Umaga may nagwa­wa­lis, tanghali may nagwawalis, hapon may nagwawalis. Walang tigil iyan. And it’s a decent job. Why? Because they’re hired and regular employees of the government.”May benefits, if you are doing the same thing all over again, every day, you’ll be good at it,” Moreno said.

“Kumbaga, magiging espesyalista mo ‘yun. Panatag na sila, na tuwing ika-limang buwan, hindi na sila kakabahan kung mainit ang ulo ni mayor, kung tatanggalin sila, kasi, J. O. lang sila. So, we’ll give them peace of mind, job security. We’ll hire more people based on our capacity with regards to personal services,” he added.

Moreno is a former scavenger so there’s no doubt that the Manila Mayor knows how to clean up the streets.

“Managing waste is my expertise since I was once a garbage collec­tor when I was a high school stu­dent,” he said.

Aside from the Metro Aide program, Moreno is also planning to buy the recyclable waste from the residents of Manila.

Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno personally went to Lagusnilad Underpass located near the City Hall to check the cleaning operation conducted by his team.

The said underpass is known for being dirty and infested by illegal vendors who used the said place to operate their businesses and even stored their personal belongings.

The former look of Lagusnilad underpass Photo: https://janpalanas.wordpress.com

Moreno was disappointed to see the poor condition of the underpass which the only safest way for the people to cross Lawton from Intramuros to the City Hall Area.

He described that the underpass has a foul smell because it was poorly maintained over the years.

While inspecting the underpass, several illegal vendors were heard pleading to the Mayor to stop confiscating their belongings.

“Binoto namin kayo Mayor… ano ba ito sana ay sinabihan kami ng maayos,” the vendors told Moreno.

However, the Mayor argued that they are not allowed to place their businesses in the underpass.

“Para ho sa inyo ito at hindi para sa kanila [illegal vendors], kayo ang dapat nandito.. ang taumbayan,” the Mayor told the crowd.

The Mayor asked the commuters to be a little bit patient because the cleanup operation caused traffic.

He blamed the so-called ‘organizers’ for letting the illegal vendors operate in the underpass.

“Ito ay sa taumbayan na muli… ang City Hall underpass… it’s for everybody, not for me, not for General Danao but everybody should use this,” he said.

After the cleanup, netizens were amazed by the instant transformation happened in the underpass.

Lagusnilad Underpass which is known for being narrow and full of illegal vendors is now clean and more passable.

Moreno said that he would order to renovate the said underpass.

President Rodrigo Duterte signed a law giving 20 percent discount to students on different kinds of transportation.

The Republic Act 11314 was signed on April 17, which provides 20% student discount for all kinds of public transportation like buses, jeepneys, taxis, tricycles, trains, marine vessels, and aircraft.

However, the law does not cover school service, tourist service, and any similar service covered by contract or charter agreement and with valid franchise or permit from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

Students should be enrolled during those time to avail the discount. They need to present their latest student I.D or any documents that would prove that they’re enrolled in the present school year.

“A student under this Act shall be entitled to a grant of 20% discount on domestic regular fares, upon personal presentation of their duly-issued school identification cards (IDs) or current validated enrollment form, supported by the prescribed government-issued identification document, subject to an appropriate verification mechanism to be provided in the implementing rules and regulations,” the law read.

The President signed the said bill into the law to “encourage students, particularly the poor, and underprivileged, to pursue quality education to secure their future and make them responsible citizens.”

PUV owners that would refuse to give a discount to the students under the new law will face penalties including suspension of driver’s license, fines ranging from PHP1,000 to PHP15,000, and the cancelation of their certificates of public convenience.

Senator Sonny Angara who co-authored the bill expressed his happiness over the decision of the President to sign it.

“This is a year-round benefit that students can avail so they can have discounted fares whenever they want to go home to their families, even during holidays,” Angara said.

“Malaking tulong ang mga diskwento na ito para sa mga mag-aaral. Ang matitipid na pera sa pamasahe at iba pang gastusin ay maaaring gamitin ng estudyante sa ibang bagay,” he added.

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno insisted that some of the illegal vendors operating around the streets of his City are not poor people because they could afford to pay a significant amount of money to have an imaginary permit to sell from so-called ‘organizers.’

In an interview on news magazine show Kapuso Mo, Jessica Sojo (KMJS) Moreno revealed that the illegal vendors around Manila are paying more than 30,000 pesos to allow their businesses to operate even in the middle of the street.

In addition, Moreno said that the illegal vendors are required to pay 350-500 per day for “Eddie and Patty”, a slang popularized by the Mayor to refer the people receiving bribes in Manila.

“Let’s be honest, numbenta’y singko porsyento sa kanila [vendors] hindi mahirap,” Moreno said.

“Alam mo kung bakit? If they can afford to pay 30,000 pesos para sa isang maliit na lamesa for rights.. rights lang to sell… they can afford 350 pesos a day and 500 pesos a day para kay “Eddie at Patty’,” he added.

In a separate interview, Moreno also said that he was tried to bribed by P5-M a day just to allow the illegal vendors around Manila to operate.

The offer shocked Moreno, saying that P5-M a day could only be afforded if there are 100,000 vendors around Manila that would pay 50 pesos daily.

To counter the so-called ‘organizers’ Moreno urged the vendors to pay 20 pesos only to the City Government of Manila. But he clarified that they’re not allowed to sell in illegal places anymore despite paying a fee.

Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno said that he’s not complaining in his salary despite being working overtime to improve his city.

Moreno revealed his monthly salary when was featured in the popular television news magazine program Kapuso Mo Jessica Sojo (KMJS) on Sunday, July 14.

During the interview with journalist Jessica Sojo, Moreno revealed that he experienced all the hardship during his youth, including being a scavenger and a pedicab driver.

He also shared that he even tried to swim in the depts of the water to get the coins being thrown by the ship passengers at Manila Pier.

According to Moreno, because of being poor, he experienced eating dirty foods also known as “Pagpag”. It comes from the garbage from restaurants he collected and just being recooked.

That is the reason why he’s not complaining anymore about his monthly salary costs 100,000 pesos a month.

“Basura nga kinakain ko nung araw, magrereklamo pa ba ako sa isang daang libo?” Moreno told Sojo during the interview.

Moreno who was born in Tondo, Manila grew in a poor family and was discovered in 1993 by a talent scout while he’s visiting a wake.

He successfully entered politics in 1998 as a councilor for Manila’s first congressional district and also became the Vice Mayor of Manila for three consecutive terms.

In the last Mayoral election of Manila City, Moreno defeated former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada who’s already a politician even before he was born.