By Ria Fernandez
Like his rival Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, Manila mayoral candidate Alfredo Lim is also eyeing to lower real property taxes (RPT) in the country’s capital should he win in the elections this May.
In a meeting with some business and property owners in the Chinatown, Binondo district, Lim was met by complaints about high RPTs imposed on them.
In response, Lim vowed to bring down these taxes to the same level as when he was mayor in 2007.
Despite protests, the rate of RPT was raised to 300 percent through a resolution passed by Manila City Council when Lim left the city hall.
Lim was Manila’s chief executive from 1992 to 1998 and 2007 to 2013.
Under his administration, the “womb-to-tomb” program or free services from pre-natal to death was introduced to Manileños.
Five public hospitals, in addition to the Ospital ng Maynila, were put up.
Lim also cited among his accomplishments the establishment of City College of Manila, which is now the Universidad de Manila, which provides free college education aside from Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM).
On May 13, Lim will be fighting it out again for the Manila mayoral post against incumbent Mayor Joseph Estrada, against whom he lost in 2013 and 2016, and Moreno, a former vice mayor.