Mayor-elect Isko Moreno says he can lead Manila for three terms

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 17) — Manila Mayor-elect Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Friday said he is offering his services to lead the country's capital for three terms, or nine years, just to carry out his long-term plans.

“Of course. When we plan, I want to introduce a continuous government. ‘Yun ang gusto namin [That’s what we want,]” Moreno told CNN Philippines’ The Source.

He said some of his long-term programs will tackle tourism, traffic and health.

“Hindi ‘yan ikinaila sa mga taga-Maynila... pinaliwanag ko sa tao, ‘Wag ho kayong maiinip ha. Sampung taon ho ito mangyayari,’” Moreno said.

[Translation: That wasn’t hidden from Manila residents … I explained to people, ‘Don’t get impatient. This will happen in 10 years.]

But Moreno said some of his programs can be implemented as soon as 2020, when a fresh budget is given to the city.

Among these is a monthly allowance to students of city-run Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila and Universidad de Manila.

“Libre na lang ‘yung pagaaralan, pero to sustain ‘yung daily needs. So gusto ko pa rin siya i-stimulate. Sabi ko, sige para wala ka nang dahilan [para hindi mag-aral,] bigyan kita ng ₱1000,” Moreno said.

[Translation: Education is now free, but they still need to sustain their daily needs. So I still want to stimulate it. I said, okay so that you no longer have any reason not to go to school, I’ll give you ₱1000.]

Moreno also wants to revive a Marcos-era feeding program in schools with the nutribun, a nutrient-enriched bread.

Manila has implemented a pilot run of the nutribun feeding program in 2014, when Moreno was vice mayor under the leadership of Joseph “Erap” Ejercito Estrada. The city fed the nutribun to 2,000 students at Corazon Aquino Elementary School in Baseco compound in Tondo everyday for 120 days.

Moreno also wants to clean up the capital, assuring the public that garbage trucks will collect trash according to schedule and that waterways will be cleared on a daily basis.

He also wants to implement a trash for food program by handing out food coupons to families in exchange for recyclable trash.

He added that he will order garbage trucks not to collect trash from food chains that do not segregate their waste.

Meanwhile, senior citizens who still want to work may do so, as Moreno said he would require businesses to hire the elderly, mimicking a scheme in other countries like Singapore and Japan.

“If they can do it there, why can’t they do it here? This is an opportunity for any senior citizen who is physically able,” Moreno said.

Moreno won in the heated Manila mayoral race, with 147,320 votes ahead of his former ally, outgoing Mayor Estrada, denying him his third and last consecutive term. He also bested another former ally, former Mayor Alfredo Lim.

Moreno may be a fresh face at the top seat at the Manila City Hall, but he is no stranger to politics.

From being plucked out of the slums to become an actor, Moreno became a city councilor, before serving a three-term vice mayor. He tried for a Senate seat in 2016, but lost, landing three places short at rank 15th.