Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna on Tuesday said the city government is gradually settling the debts it has incurred under the previous administration.
In her State of the City Address at the PICC Forum Tent, the mayor acknowledged the efforts of fellow officials and employees in settling over PHP2 billion out of the city’s PHP17 billion outstanding debt.
“Sa pagtatapos ng pandemya, at sa pagpasok ng ating bagong pamamahala, nagdesisyon ako, na unahin na matustusan ang minana nating pananagutan sa mga nagpahiram ng pondo. Umabot ito ng mahigit pa sa PHP17 billion. Sa masinop at maayos na pamamahala natin sa pananalapi ng bayan, unti-unti, ipinagmamalaki kong nakapagbayad na tayo at nabawasan ang obligasyon ng mahigit sa dalawang bilyong piso, sa loob lamang ng isang taon (When the pandemic ended and the new leadership started, I decided to settle first the liabilities that we inherited. It reached PHP17 billion. Through sound fiscal management, I am proud to say that we were able to pay and reduce our financial obligations by more than PHP2 billion),” she added.
From 2023 to date, Lacuna reported that a total of 184,572 registered senior citizens in Manila were given monthly allowances in addition to the continuous provision of birthday cakes and special Christmas gifts.
“Maraming salamat sa ating Sangguniang Panlungsod, na mabilis isinabatas ang aking adhikain na Death Benefits Welfare program (I would like to thank the City Council for the quick enactment of our proposed Death Benefits Welfare program),” she said.
The city’s Department of Tourism, she said, registered 14 million local and foreign tourists so that Manila was recognized as the “Worlds’ Leading City Destination” in the December 2023 sa World Travel Awards which is the highest award in tourism worldwide.
She also touted the decreasing number of crimes in the city, which she attributed to the strong collaboration between barangay officials and the Manila Police District.
“Sa pinakahuling ulat ng PNP (Philippine National Police), ang kanilang datos ay nagsasabi na ang Maynila ang pangalawa sa may pinakamababang insidente ng kriminalidad sa buong (Based on the PNP’s latest report, their data showed Manila has the second lowest crime rate in the whole) National Capital Region,” Lacuna added.
She added that the Manila LGU has conducted over 25,000 operations against curfew, obstruction, and traffic violators.
Lacuna also vowed to continue serving residents.
“Hindi tayo titigil. Hindi ako titigil. Hanggang sa ating makamit, ang pinapangarap nating (We will not stop. I will not stop. Until we achieve our dream of a) Magnificent Manila,” Lacuna said. (PNA)
