Mayor Vico Sotto explained to the netizens on social media why he’s having difficulties in solving the traffic problem in Pasig City.

On August 9, Sotto made a lengthy post explaining why the recent decision of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to solve the traffic in EDSA made the situation along major roads in Pasig City worse.

According to him, many vehicles coming from other cities are now using the roads of Pasig City including C5 because of some new rules along EDSA, but he said that he would still trust the MMDA on handling the situation along Metro Manila.

“In recent days, we have had to deal with even more challenges. Most notably, the efforts of the #MMDA along #EDSA have greatly increased vehicle volume in C5 and even the interior roads of Pasig. We will defer to the wisdom & authority of the MMDA, but this increased traffic on our side is a reality for now.” Vico Sotto said.

Sotto explained that no policies would solve the traffic problem in Metro Manila unless the government tries to make a way to stop the proliferation of purchasing traffic vehicles.

“With all of this in mind, the bottom line is that traffic in Pasig and Metro Manila will continue to worsen no matter what traffic policies we have UNLESS we lessen the demand for cars. This means a greater focus on moving people rather than private vehicles. This means incorporating more non-car modes of transportation in our long-term plans.” said Sotto.

“We will balance the longer term with the short term need to manage traffic better. This will be difficult, but we are prepared to fight for better mobility in Pasig,” he added.

In the same post, Sotto also expressed disappointment after he discovered that the current traffic data available in his City was made in 2014 which made it difficult for them to make new rules.

Sotto also showcased his short term actions to solve the traffic in Pasig:

– Recalibration of stoplights based on more recent data
– Clearer policy on the turning off of stoplights for manual enforcement
– Partnership with PNP to help with enforcement and entrapment ops for kotong enforcers (salamat COP)
– Ugnayan sa mga TODA (ongoing; inuna ito dahil sila ang pinaka marami) at iba pang transport groups
– Koordinasyon sa DPWH at Manila Water para mapabilis ang paggawa sa C Raymundo (another post on this later)
– Clearing operations (paki reklamo sa UsaP ang mga brgy na kulang sa aksyon)
– Ordinansang ipinagbabawal ang pagsara ng mga barangay roads (pending sa konseho)

Mayor Isko Moreno is not the only public official in Manila City that leaving his office to personally serve the people.

Manila City Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan used her profession to lead a medical and dental mission at Barangay 51, Tondo.

In the photos posted by the Manila Public Information Office, it showed the Vice Mayor talking to the residents who asked for medical health.

Lacuna who’s the daughter of former Manila Vice Mayor Danny Lacuna is known for leading medical missions.

She’s a former Public Health Center Physician under the Manila Health Department from 1995-2004.

Lacuna was called “door-to-door doctora” for being hands-on when it comes on medical missions along Manila.

She’s a political ally of Moreno and partner during the last Mayoral race in Manila.

Medical missions are part of Mayor Isko Moreno’s plan to improve the health of the Manilenyos.

As part of his plan to improve healthcare in Manila, he vowed to give more funding to the public hospitals, he’s also planning to build a huge medical center facing the Manila Bay.

Moreno also warned the health workers to quit if they cannot smile in front of their patients.

“Makikisuyo naman. Frontline kayo ng gobyerno in delivering services, in this case, health services. Kung hindi na kayo masaya sa trabaho ‘nyo dahil kayo’y masungit na kinakaharap yung mga may sakit, kaya kayo’y nagsusungit dahil pagod na kayo, kaya kayo’y nagsusungit dahil ‘di na kayo masaya sa ginagawa ‘nyo, pwede naman kayong magpaalam,” Moreno said.

“Totoong nakakapagod, jusko nakakapagod…pero pinasok natin ito. This is public service eh. Ano ba naman ang kaunting ngiti?” he also said.

Mayor Isko Moreno told the members of the Senate Committee on Local Government that they should make a law that would penalize village officials and cops for not doing their duty to stop the proliferation of illegal stalls, obstructions, and establishments under their jurisdiction.

According to him, the cause of the problem in Manila is because even the lowest public officials in his city are accepting bribes from illegal vendors, from Barangay captain to police officers.

He believes that the proliferation of illegal vendors is the reason why Manila City became “chaotic”.

Moreno also told the Senators on how the so-called organizers are operating in Manila.

“Una muna yung CAFGU yung mga sibiliyan na mukhang pulis… yung mga sibiliyan na yan ay may baril tapos mag o-organize, kakausapin si chairman, pag ka kausap kay chairman susunod nyan ay police, susunod nyan commander, susunod nyan ahensiya ng government tapos ang susunod ay si Eddie na saka si Patty,” he said.

“So my point is Mr. Chair ay dapat magkaroon po ng basic law na kapag mayroong ganon dapat automatic administratively liable yung Barangay chairman, yung lespu, because if you’re just going to order them, what will happen next is cat and mouse, to-tolonggesin ka lang ng mga tao sa kalye,” he added.

“Kaya di niyo napansin na hindi ako natutulog dahil alam ko na to-tolongessing lang ako eh, alam ko na pagkatulog ko eh ilalatag na ulit nila yan,” 

He also made the Bonifacio monument as an example to describe how Manila has been neglected for so many years, saying that the said park is only meters away from the City Hall but still the past government failed to clean it properly.

Moreno pointed out that his suggestion to punish barangay officials for neglect could help to avoid the building of illegal structures and the proliferation of illegal vendors in the country.

His proposal could also help the Mayors handling big cities like Manila to make their job easier because it would ensure that the barangay officials would do their job.

“It’s a high time to create a law na kung mayroon na nakalagay [na illegal vendor] at na picturan, o bukas ay suspendido na si chairman,” he said.

Mayor Isko Moreno thanked the agencies of the national government for helping him in his mission to bring back Manila City to the top spot among the cities in the Philippines.

According to him, he heard that the national government is planning to support the reforms of Moreno who’s known for his strict leadership.

“Salamat sa national government, basta kami hindi tatangi sa tulong ninyo… marami akong napapabalita ngayon na paparating na tulong sa siyudad,” said Moreno.

To return the favor Moreno vowed that he would unite the City of Manila and the National Government.

The Manila Mayor said that before, the capital city is known for having its own republic and not cooperating with the national government.

“In return, we will continue to reintegrate Manila to the national government, muli kong panawagan sa mga national agency wala na pong republic of Manila nowadays… There is only one republic, the republic of the Philippines led by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte,” he said.

“Manila is just one of 1,600 municipalities and cities all over the country, it just so happens that we are the capital, other than that wala na,” he added.

He then said that all national agencies are welcome to Manila to send their help to the city government.

“Tulungan ninyo ako, tulungan ninyo kami sa mga pagawaing bayan na kakailanganin ng lungsod ng Maynila,” said Moreno.

Aside from the government, he also asked the Manilenyos to help him to make his plans happen.

He also mentioned that Manila City got a very low rank among the cities in the Philippines.

“Gusto niyo bang maging number one tayo ulit? sa ibabaw ha hindi sa ilalim… hindi ko po kayang mag isa yun, basta ako I’ll do my best… I’ll use all my energy, ideas and concepts towards a better direction, but I cannot do that alone, kailangan ko po ang tulong ninyong lahat,” he said.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Spokesperson Celine Pialago gave more details about her complaint against ABS-CBN veteran journalist Doris Bigornia.

In an interview with Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP), Pialago said that she does not feel safe anymore because of her encounter with Bigornia, saying that even in their own office, the veteran journalist is showing rude behavior towards her.

“With her presence within the vicinity of our office, I don’t feel safe anymore. She shouted and pointed a finger on me in our own office,” Pialago said.

According to her even in front of MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia, Bigornia is not afraid to show her tough attitude towards Pialago who’s the spokesperson of the agency since in 2016 and got promoted as assistant secretary in 2018.

She said that Bigornia is doing the same thing to her for almost one year.

“Ang nag-trigger ng reklamo ko, e, yung pagsugod niya, pagduduro niya sa harap ni GM Jojo Garcia [MMDA general manager] sa mismo naming office.” she said.

Pialago also hopes the other people who also had a bad encounter with Bigornia to reveal their stories so the veteran journalist gets what she deserves.

“Sana lahat ng nakaengkuwentro ni Miss Doris ay mabigyan din ng pagkakataon na makapagreklamo nang pormal.” she said.

In another interview, Pialago already realized that Bigornia doesn’t like her when she realized that the veteran journalist always “turns a sour face” when they’re seeing each other.

She also trusts ABS-CBN that they would make proper actions against Bigornia.

Meanwhile, it seems that MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim and GM Jojo Garcia distanced to the issue between their colleague and Bigornia.

“Some scathing reporting aside, your persistence and dedication in covering news concerning traffic and flooding made the public more aware of the MMDA’s efforts in serving the greater Metro Manila. We will be very pleased if you will be retained as ABS-CBN’s assigned reporter for the agency,” the two top MMDA official said.

They also said that MMDA would not interfere with the feud between Bigornia and Pialago.

“It does not reflect or represent the MMDA as an institution despite the said letter being printed on the official letterhead. We did not sanction the same and was done at her personal behest,” they said.

This is not the first time that Bigornia received a complaint, in 2016 a Davao-based journalist revealed that the ABS-CBN reporter showed a rude behavior to them.

“Our DMNG Engineer Al Lim Ramz politely told you to excuse yourself from our camera since you became an eyesore to my live report. Mr. Bong Go and I were on cam, but you immediately scolded him and even told him “sapakin kita”. Seniel wrote in his open letter in 2016.

Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno decided to remove the vegetable stalls along Recto Avenue because of not listening to his plea to clean their area every day.

During his weekly capital report, Moreno told his followers that he removed the stalls because the City Government of Manila is having difficulties in cleaning a bunch of vegetable and fruit peels that the vendors left every day.

According to him, the garbage from the vegetable stalls gave inconvenience to the people every morning because of its smell.

He also pointed out that while some of the vegetable and fruit vendors are not really living in Manila, they’re the one who contributed a lot in making the streets dirty.

The Manila Mayor said that sometimes, the Manila City Government need to use backhoe loader to clean the garbage from the vegetable stalls.

“Bumibisita na nga lang kayo sa Maynila, pinayagan na nga kayong mag hanap buhay pero yung basura niyo ay tinatapon niyo lang kung saan saan? Hindi naman ata makatwiran yun,” said Moreno.

“Mahirap ba yun na isako ninyo, ilagay ninyo sa tamang sisidlan, itali ninyo, ilagay ninyo sa isang area patong patong at maayos, para pagdating ng alas singko umaga ay papasok na yung truck ng basura mas madali siyang makukuha,” he added.

Moreno said that he would give one more chance to the vegetable owners to do their obligation to the City Government of Manila or else they should look for another city to operate their business.

“Eto last warning ko na sa inyo, huling paalala. Pababalikin ko kayo pero sa gabi nga lang, gulay at prutas lang ito ah. Isang reklamo nalang na ikinalat niyo pa yung mga basura ninyo wala na ho tayo, pasensyahan na tayo,” Moreno warns.

He again asked the business owners to make all things simple by following the rules that the Manila City Government implemented.

“Para magkaroon ng kapanatagan ang lahat ng sektor, isang usapan lang… wag na tayong mag pa ulit ulit… kung ano yung napagkasunduan yun na yun, walang pabago bago,” said Moreno.

“Dahil kung ganyan din naman kayo kausap at wala kayong katinuan sa katawan, wala kayong katinuan sa isipan at sarili niyo lang ang iniisip ninyo ay hindi ko po kayo papayagan, lilingunin ko po ang higit na nakakarami,” he added.

He vowed that he would prioritize the majority of the Manilenyos who wants to see the City clean than the stubborn business owners who doesn’t want to do their obligations.

“Kaparatan namin ang isang malinis na kalye, maayos na kalye.” he said.

Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno appealed to the parents of the solvent boys to make their children feel that they have family and not let them leave in the streets.

During his weekly capital report, Moreno said that they already rescued 365 street children, some of them are already using solvent.

According to Moreno, the rescue operations conducted by the Manila City Government made their boys and girls town crowded.

He also asked the parents to retrieve their rescued children and not to give up on taking care of them because it would only make the situation worse.

“Alam ko mahirap ang buhay, pero hindi ito dapat maging sapat na dahilan para itapon ang ating anak sa kalye… malalagay po sila sa panganib, sa mga bagay na dapat hindi nila mararanasan,” Moreno said.

“Sana wag niyo na silang ibalik sa kalye, bakit? Dahil kayo ang magulang niyan eh. Gagawa gawa kayo ng bata tapos pababayaan niyo lang sa kalye?” he added.

The Manila Mayor said that they would not stop in rescuing children in streets. However, he believes that parents should be more concern about their child.

He also narrated how his parents took care of him and never left him to roam in the streets at night despite being in extreme poverty.

“Hindi ba kayo nagtataka bakit nawawala ang inyong mga anak? Wala na ba kayong pakialam o sadyang nawalan na kayo ng pag asa? Aba wag ho, kung yung nanay ko nawalan ng pag asa sa akin eh baka ako sa kinalalagyan ko ngayon,” said Moreno.

“Mas mahirap pa ang dinanas namin sa inyo, ang kinakain ko ay tira ng tao sa basurahan pero ni minsan hindi ko naramdaman sa nanay ko na iiwan ako sa kalye, in fact alas sais palang ay hinahanap na kami ng magulang namin,” he added.

Moreno believes that despite difficulties in life, parents should not give up on taking care of their children.

The Mayor pointed out that it’s easier now for the parents to let their children escape poverty because there’s already a free education for them, free food under nutribun program and free allowances.

“Kaya tinawag na bata yan dahil hindi niya alam ang kanyang ginagawa… kaya naman tayo tinawag na magulang ay dahil tayo naman ang nagtitiyak, nag gagabay, nangangaral at nag pupursigi para iraos ang kanilang magandang kinabukasan,” he said.

“Tama ng tayo nalang mga magulang ang mahirap, kung ang yaman ay naipapamana ganoon din ang kahirapan naipapamana rin yan kung hindi tayo mag sisikap na itaguyod ang ating mga anak,” he added.

In another live video, Moreno already warned the parents of the street children not to neglect their child or else they would face charges under the law.

It seems that the financial problem of Hidilyn Diaz is now over after Senator Christopher “Bong” Go helped her to get a sponsorship from a Petroleum company.

On Thursday afternoon, weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz who’s known for getting a silver medal in the 2016 Olympics personally went to Malacanang to receive the PHP2-million sponsorship deal with Phoenix Petroleum to help her to prepare for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

Diaz witnessed the signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and Phoenix Petroleum.

PSC chairman William ‘Butch’ Ramirez and Phoenix President Raymond Zorilla signed the MOA in front of Diaz and Go.

The agreement reads that Diaz may use the P2-M as food allowance, housing allowance, a transporation allowance, overseas training allowance, strength, and conditioning coach allowance and etc.

According to Go, they heard the complaint of Hidilyn Diaz two months ago saying that she’s lack of budget to prepare for the 2020 Olympics.

“Nagreklamo siya. Sabi naman ng PSC, hindi nila kayang sagutin lahat kasi may ibang requirements sa pagti-training, sa mga coaches niya, medyo mahal, so sabi ko hanap ako ng mga kaibigan na puwedeng tumulong,” Go told reporters.

Meanwhile, Hidilyn Diaz thanked the people behind the sponsorship deal, saying that it’s a big help for her to train effectively and get a gold medal for the Philippines.

“Malaking bagay yun kasi maglalaro ako sa Olympics, and there’s a lot of competition that I need to compete in preparation towards the Olympics. Medyo mahirap, so may core team ako and I’m so grateful for the help, for the support they’ve given,” she said.

Diaz became controversial two months ago after she posted an Instagram story asking private companies to sponsor her.

“It is okay to ask sponsorship sa mga private companies towards Tokyo 2020? Hirap na hirap na ako, I need financial support.” Diaz said.

“Sa tingin niyo ba okay lang kaya nahihiya kasi ako pero try ko kapalan mukha ko para sa minimithi kong pangarap para sa atin bansa na maiuwi ang Gold Medal sa Olympics,” she added.

However, PSC said that they’re in full support of Diaz citing that the weightlifter receives PHP48,000-month allowance, housing and food, coach and foreign training allowance.

Last year, PSC revealed that Diaz received a total of P3-M from the government.

Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno responded on Senator Leila De Lima’s statement, warning him about the possible human rights violation he committed because of presenting suspected lawbreakers in media.

During a press conference, Moreno insisted that he’s doing what is right and denied that he’s parading the suspects for publicity.

“Una walang parada, ang parada ho ay sa Luneta… hindi naman ho sila pinaparada. I respect her views… she’s entitled to it any citizens of the country you’re entitled to your opinion,” Moreno said.

“But for the meantime, me being a Mayor of Manila I have my obligation to keep Manila clear of lawbreakers because we owe it to the people of Manila,” he added.

Moreno explained that the suspects are already shameless so it’s useless to shame them in public.

He said that he’s only presenting the suspects to the public so the people would know that they’re doing their best to catch the lawbreakers alive.

The Mayor also vowed that he would prioritize the human rights of the innocent civilians who only wanted to be safe.

“Nahihiya ba kayo sa ginagawa nila? Kung kayo ang magulang nito? Eh sila hindi nahihiya eh, kita niyo nga inaalagaan ko pa yung pagkakakilanlan nila sa mata ng publiko, pero kailangan makita ng taga Maynila na may warm body,” he said.

“Puwede tayong usapang laway lang pero kung nakikita niyo talaga, hindi ba ito magbibigay ng kapanatagan ng inyong kalooban? Hindi ba ito patunay na seryoso ang Lungsod ng Maynila? Violation of human rights eh paano yung human rights ng gusto matulog ng mahimbing? diba may human rights din naman kayo?” he added.

He mentioned again that the police also have the right to defend themselves if the suspects try to resist them.

“Kung kayo ay malalagay sa alanganin at mahal niyo pa ang inyong buhay ay maipagtatangol niyo naman ang inyong sarili habang pinapatupad ninyo ang batas,” he said.

“So balancing lang yan, hindi po ito popularity contest. This is [about] keeping our city clean of bad elements, basta po kami nakikisuyo lang po kami sa kanila… kami po ay kailangan ng tulong sa Maynila, sana ay tulungan nalang nila kami sa Maynila dahil mamamayan din naman kami ng bansa,” he also said.

De Lima, in a statement, suggested to Moreno to avoid stop “parading” the suspects in front of media because they have the right to presumption of innocence.

“Pinapaalala lang natin sa kanya na ang pagparada ng suspect ay labag sa batas sa karapatang pantao,” said De Lima.