ANGEL THOUGHTS
Love beauty. It is the shadow of God on the universe!
Gabriel Mistral
How does it feel to be Manila’s mayor in this pandemic?
We asked Manila Mayor Francisco Domagoso, better known as Isko or “Yorme,” amid his back-breaking schedule.
The adrenaline is still pumping when he discusses the city.
“I am grateful to the people of Manila for choosing me as their mayor. Now I have a big responsibility as the “father” of this highly urbanized city. If I could only talk to my younger self, I would tell him: Kaya naman pala!” he answered.
He had to be councilor (three terms) and vice mayor (three terms) but the work experience was well worth it. He ran for the senate in 2016 and landed in 16th place, a good finish considering he was a newbie in national politics, and he insisted on using his formal name, Domagoso, even if it was unknown to voters. He insisted on using his father’s legal name, “his legacy,” as he explained.
After the elections, he was appointed to head the North Rail Project but stayed there only for three months and then he was appointed undersecretary at the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DWSD). He adapted well there and worked hard. His office at DSWD’s main HQ was filled daily with people who needed help. They would line up the stairs to his second-floor office from the ground floor until 8 p.m. To the sadness of the people running to the DSWD, he left after eight months to run for mayor against a goliath, Erap.
When he won, he was fully cognizant of the ways of local governance, the ins and outs of “pagiging mayor ng Maynila” (how to be mayor of Manila) from the ground up. He had finished his college studies, took up executive courses abroad, and was confident that he, the poor boy and artista, could handle a mega city like Manila that had been run to the ground by mismanagement, corruption, and greed.
After more than a year, was the job what he expected?
“When I began my candidacy for mayor of our nation’s capital, I was well-aware of the mandate. I know what I signed up for. It is why I have vowed to be relentless in fixing our city,” Yorme stressed.
What matters most right now to the popular, hardworking charismatic young mayor (42 years old) is how to defeat Covid-19.
“We need to defeat the virus and that means utilizing whatever resources we still have,” he said. “We’re focused on how we’re going to survive this pandemic, how we can suppress the numbers or growth of Covid-19.”
He has the full cooperation of his vice-mayor, Dr. Honey Lacuna, and the city officials, as well as the support of his self-effacing wife, Dynee, and his five children.
While he has his plans for overcoming the pandemic and its effects on the city and its big population, 1.8 million at night and three million during the day, he is pursuing them dilligently with the help of experts and generous donors.
On Aug. 6, Mayor Domagoso signed an ordinance appropriating P200 million for the immediate purchase of Covid-19 vaccines the moment they are available for all Manileños. His free testing centers are working at full capacity, too.
He believes that despite this Covid-19 pandemic, basic governance must continue.
“We are trying to provide education, cleaner spaces, and vertical housing development. We’re still addressing garbage and environmental issues. We’re still addressing our business sector,” he said. “Life and livelihood must be addressed together.”
Mayor Isko has recently deployed 400 Covid-19 safety marshals who will assist the city’s police and barangay officials in enforcing public health protocols under the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).
“Kayong lahat ay sanay sa kalsada. Araw-araw na ginawa ng Diyos, marami na kayong nakitang makukulit, marami na rin kayong experience sa pakikiusap sa mga tao. Alam ko ang sinasaway niyo lang ay driver, pero simula sa araw na ito, ang sasawayin niyo na ay taumbayan,” Isko told the Covid-19 safety marshals.
“We will help our uniformed personnel in the PNP and the MPD. We will augment to keep peace and order in the city,” he added. They are half of the traffic personnel of the city and he reminded them of existing city laws mandating the use of face masks, compliance with physical distancing protocols, as well as general curfew.
“Sasawayin natin ang mga hindi sumusunod sa batas, pero hindi natin kailangan maging mainitin ang ulo, hindi tayo kailangan maggagalit-galitan. Magagalit lang tayo kapag talagang may tiyak na kagaguhan, kawalanghiyaan, katalonggesan,” Domagoso said. “While you’re still in government, I want you to see the Manila Clock Tower as a symbol of hope for our city. Maging pamantayan natin. Hanggang nakatatag yan, hanggang nakatayo yan, may Pamahalang Lungsod na magmamalasakit sa kanyang mamamayan.”