By Terence Ranis
Manila mayoral candidate and retired police Gen. Elmer Jamiass said on Friday, April 8, that the city of Manila continues to face the same challenges it had before.

"Ang problema noon at problema ngayon halos pareho pa rin. Ano po iyon? Kakulangan ng mga ospital para sa mahihirap, kakulangan ng trabaho para sa mahihirap (The problems before are almost still the same today. What are those? Lack of hospitals for the poor, lack of job opportunities for the poor)," Jamias said during the Manila Mayoralty Candidates' Forum held in Binondo, Manila.
Jamias explained that despite him being an ordinary Manileño who did not come from any political family, his advocacy is to continuously help and serve the people of the city.
"Ako po si Elmer Jamias na ipinanganak sa Maynila at tumatakbong mayor ngayon dahil mahal ko ang Maynila. Hindi ko hahayaan na magwagi ang kasamaa laban sa maynila, ito po aking adhikain bilang isang manilenyo (I am Elmer Jamias who was born in Manila and is currently running as mayor because I love Manila. I will not allow evil to win against the City of Manila, this is my advocacy as a Manileño)," he said.
He also said he will spend the rest of his life in improving the city through the creation of more job opportunities for the poor, housing projects, and giving free hospitalization if elected as the next mayor of the city.
Jamias is running under the People’s Reform Party (PRP), the political party of the late Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim.
He ran for vice mayor in the nation’s capital in the 2019 elections but lost.