Mayor Lani Cayetano is resilience and dedication personified, starting at a young age. At 22, she founded the Progressive Ladies' League of the Philippines, advocating for women's rights and welfare.
At the age of 23, she established the Angat Lahat Multi-Purpose Cooperative to create alternative income sources through various livelihood projects.
Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano (Photo from Mayor Cayetano's Facebook account)
At 25, she became the first female representative of Taguig-Pateros, earning the recognition as one of Centro Escolar University's Most Distinguished Alumnae in 2008, and the United Nations Associations of the Philippines in 2009.
At 28, Lani Cayetano became Taguig's first female Mayor in 2010, winning subsequent elections in 2013 and 2016. In 2022, she secured her fourth term.
Her extensive track record showcases not only her resilience in the face of challenges but also her dedication to advancing the welfare of her constituents and promoting the ideals she believes in.
“Ate Lani” has been an advocate for various causes, with a particular focus on women's rights, health, and education. She has championed programs that empower women and enhance the overall well-being of communities.
Under her leadership, Taguig City has seen advancements in infrastructure, healthcare services, and education, contributing to the city's growth and progress.
10 new barangays in Taguig
She recently welcomed residents of EMBO (enlisted men’s barrio) barangays now under Taguig -- Cembo, Comembo, East Rembo, Pembo, Pitogo, Post Proper Northside, Post Proper Southside, Rizal, South Cembo and West Rembo.
Taguig won with finality in its territorial dispute with Makati in 2023 but the city government under Mayor Lani Cayetano faced challenges to expand services, particularly in health, in EMBO (enlisted men’s barrio) amid the closure of health centers in the areas.
In April last year, it was announced that the Supreme Court’s (SC) Special Third Division issued a resolution dated Sept. 28, 2022 denying “with finality the Makati City government’s omnibus motion for reconsideration of the Court’s December 1, 2021 Decision, on the ground that the basic issues raised therein have been duly considered and passed upon by the Court in the assailed Decision.”
In the December 2021 decision, the Supreme Court denied Makati’s petition for review on certiorari and ruled that the “Fort Bonifacio Military Reservation, consisting of Parcels 3 and 4, Psu-2031, is confirmed to be part of the territory of the City of Taguig.”
The case stemmed in 1993 when Taguig filed a complaint against Makati with a Pasig Regional Trial Court over the territorial dispute involving the EMBO areas and Fort Andres Bonifacio.
In June last year, the Supreme Court denied Makati’s second motion for reconsideration, which Taguig praised.
Mayor Cayetano welcomed the SC decision but the city government faced roadblocks to fully exercise its jurisdiction over the 10 EMBO barangays.
With the addition, Taguig now has 38 barangays under its jurisdiction. Based on the 2020 Census by the Philippine Statistical Authority (PSA), Taguig has a population of 886,722.
The 10 EMBO barangays have a total population of 336,873 as of 2020, bringing Taguig’s total population to 1,223,595.
The row between Taguig and Makati escalated when the Taguig City government led by Cayetano held the “Brigada Eskwela” in EMBO schools in August. There are 14 public schools in the EMBO barangays.
Makati insisted that a writ of execution was needed to implement the SC order, a claim refuted by Taguig.
“That’s not needed po. Government to government naman po tayo. That’s nothing but a delaying tactic,” Cayetano told the media about the Makati City government’s statement.
Makati City Administrator Claro Certeza accused the Taguig City government of “unlawful entry in our public schools without securing the necessary legal processes.”
The row between the two cities erupted again this month when the Makati City government announced that based on the Supreme Court decision, starting Jan. 1, the yellow cards issued to residents of the 10 EMBO barangays were no longer valid.
In addition, all health centers and lying-in in the EMBO areas were closed as the license to operate for the facilities had expired.
The announcement caught the Taguig City government off-guard and it scrambled to provide health services to residents in the EMBO areas.
Initially, Taguig opened teleconsultations for EMBO residents. It later announced that EMBO residents can go to the Taguig Pateros District Hospital, health centers, primary care facilities, and three super health centers, Dialysis Center, Animal Bite Treatment Center, main laboratories, and community-based laboratories of Taguig.
The Taguig City government also held medical missions in EMBO barangays.
The closure of fire stations in the EMBO barangays also caused another controversy.
In a Facebook Live video on Jan. 5, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, the husband of Mayor Cayetano, criticized the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) for closing fire stations in EMBO barangays and vowed to investigate the agency in the Senate.
He said people in the EMBO barangays were “put in grave danger” from Christmas Eve because the fire stations were locked up.
“Napakadelikado na nangyari na inabandona ng Bureau of Fire ang mga fire station sa EMBO barangays (It is very dangerous that the Bureau of Fire abandoned the fire stations in EMBO barangays),” he said.
He added, “I am very, very disgusted and very, very upset with the Bureau of Fire, and I promise all of you, I will get to the bottom of this. Hindi pa tapos itong isyu na ito (This issue has yet to end).”
Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. reopened the West Rembo Fire Station on J.P Rizal Extension on Jan. 5 together with Certeza and BFP officials.
“Ang pagmamay-ari ng anomang bagay, partikular ang pagmamamay-ari ng pamahalaan, ay may panlipunang layunin. Ang pagmamay-ari ay hindi isang absolutong karapapatan, at sa kaso ng mga pampublikong ari-arian ay hindi ito dapat pinaglalaruan para sa politikal na interes. (The ownership of any thing, particularly those owned by the government, has social reason. This ownership does not have absolute right and in case of public properties, these should not be played with for political interest),” the Taguig City government.
While Taguig won the battle and expanded its geographical and political territories by adding the 10 EMBO barangays, its row with Makati is expected to continue over the issue of ownership and jurisdiction of infrastructure projects that the latter built in the areas.