After ten months of interrupted service, allow me to bring to you the true state of the city which must now be made known to overcome the black propaganda fabricated during the last elections. Sadly, it is not such a pretty picture. Left in the hands of overnight leaders not chosen by the people but merely appointed by the mighty hand of higher authorities, the city has barely survived ten months of ravage and abuse. It is in a state that is quite alarming and we, with a fresh mandate, must be bold enough to see it for what it is and move beyond the ruins that it is now. We should welcome challenges. It gives us a chance to show how good we are.

          Finances, ongoing projects, organizational development, regular programs, and long range plans were totally neglected. Depressing failure in the area of sanitation and garbage seriously compromised the health of hundreds of thousands of residents.

          Despite the infirm political environment, many departments ran on their own inertia. It was what they were doing before and they just continued doing it.

          On just my second day in office, after the euphoria of endless congratulatory handshakes, tight hugs and warm, bright smiles from our people, I received unsettling information that the electrical service at the Astrodome was being disconnected by MERALCO because for ten months or since September 1, 2006 no payment was made. The bill was ten million pesos.

          That incident was just a droplet of rain before the fast-rising flood. Soon, I discovered, much to my alarm, that this was the same situation for many other buildings of the city. Worse, we are faced not only with unpaid electricity bills but bills from other utility companies as well. As of July 2 the city owed sixty-five (65) million pesos to MERALCO, although part of this was an accumulation of past debts, still there was no effort to update it.

          Sometime in October 2006, the city and MERALCO entered into an agreement whereby the city would pay its obligations in monthly installments. Not a single payment was made. Pasay became a welcher!

          We owe 6.3 million pesos to PLDT for the ten-month period of the temporary administration. We also owe MAYNILAD 5.2 million pesos.

          The city treasurer also reported to me that the city’s coffers were raided voraciously. Actual cash in banks were P34 million only. Cash in bank balances as of June 30, 2007 under the General Fund is PHP17,327,196.38; Special Education Fund PHP7,395,342.31 and the Trust Fund showed a negative balance of PHP211,426,622.49. Where did the money go? The trust fund was used for other purposes.

          As if it were the last gasp of breath of the brief take-over, PHP89,548,033.15 was the subject of midnight check issuances from June 25 to June 29, 2007. This was their last week in city hall. These checks were paid out to favored contractors and suppliers.

City obligations and personal services mooe and projects that remain unpaid as of June 30, 2007, amount to an incredible PHP406,068,817.01.

We are broke. We are challenged. We shall work to show we deserve the confidence of our people.

          The principal and interest due on the bond floatation issued by the city for the construction of the Pasay Public Mall and Market, due on February of this year, likewise, agonized under the usual severe neglect. Worse, payment for the principal was also due this month. We have been able to convince our bond holders to extend until August 1, 2007. If we fail, we shall be charged 3 % a month.

          Now it is not so surprising that the city’s employees did not receive their mid-year bonuses as mandated by law. What is funny is that they even had the nerve to blame it on us---claiming that I asked that it not be paid. I was still a private citizen then. How stupid do they think our employees are ?

          Considering that there is very little cash left in the treasury, and too many obligations to meet, plus the fact that this is the 3rd quarter of the year where collection is slower, I, contrary to my policy of not borrowing funds for the city’s coffers for the past seven years of my administration, have endorsed a request to this honorable council for authority to negotiate for a loan. Otherwise, the city hall will not be able to pay its legal obligations to its creditors and employees.

          This gloomy financial condition can be attributed primarily to lack of financial planning, absurd prioritization of expenses and a lavish political agenda. Amateurs, if I may say so. Though the city’s income did not change much during the interim, expenses were incurred left and right without consideration to the city’s cash flow.

          A bloated budget was passed by the caretaker administration obviously unaware of the realities of the financial situation of the city. Even while they miserably failed to pay these valid and existing obligations, the interim administration still went on a shopping spree:

     1.   Hiring 2,557 job-order personnel costing several millions without a clear program;

     2.   Buying eleven brand new Toyota Altis cars for PHP8,849,500.00, twenty new Mitsubishi L-300’s worth PHP13,371,440.00;

     4.   Ordering millions of pesos worth of shoes, bags and notebooks distributed for obviously political purposes which resulted in vote-buying charges still pending in the COMELEC.

          The income of regulatory offices also markedly decreased. For example, collections for building fees from September 2005 to June 2006 was more than twenty-two (22) million pesos compared to that collected from September 2006 to June 2007 of a measly six (6) million pesos. They acquired two expensive pieces of heavy equipment for seldom-used activities when the repair of the vacuum truck is more urgent due to the coming rainy season. Their operations are merely day-to-day. Nothing new or anything to be proud of.

          Likewise, the City Planning Office income decreased from more than four million pesos to two million pesos for the same period mentioned above. No new major construction projects were undertaken by the private sector perhaps because of the political instability and choking environment being experienced by businessmen in the city.

The services of the city likewise floundered. Major programs and activities stood motionless.

          A survey conducted by the Solid Waste Management Office showed that huge 89% of our residents are dissatisfied with the garbage services of the city. The much publicized reduction in the amount of the contract for garbage services was found to be a sham, pure political propaganda. The cost per truck remained the same while the total decrease of the cost on the face of the contract was attributed to an unsubstantiated decrease in the projected volume of garbage. Thus, contractors faced more garbage than they actually signed up for. As a result, there is uncollected garbage on our streets and sidewalks.

          YES, THE CITY STINKS!

          The operation of the city’s material recovery facility was stopped for no reason at all during the interim administration destroying our momentum for more efficient waste management. It is also leaving the city vulnerable to lawsuits for failing to comply with the national laws on the matter.

          Social services have also been undermined. The 2007 Annual Executive Budget shows that the PSWD’s appropriations for burial assistance and supplemental feeding have been zeroed out. The interim administration instead entered into a MOA with existing funeral parlors of the city wherein the acting mayor obligated the city to pay for the funeral services of those referred by him. This was however, used only for political reasons. As of today, the city owes funeral parlors at least two hundred thousand pesos in unpaid services.

          The Rescue and Action Center, a temporary shelter for street dwellers and families were closed during the incumbency of the interim administration.

          The Child Welfare Council did not even call for a single meeting during the ten-month period. Pasay City was the first city in the Philippines declared by the UNICEF to be child-friendly. We have received many awards for this. For this year, we had to decline participation for the lack of preparation traced to indifference to the program which has made us so proud.

          The building of classrooms is spelled out in the five-year education program of my administration adopted a few years ago.

          However, there was an inordinate rush to enter into contracts to build classrooms without regard to long-term planning. Though the area for development has been clearly identified through purchasing adjacent lots to existing school sites that will allow them lateral expansion in the future, this was not implemented.

          The discussions with MEGAWORLD for the 3.2 hectare lot within Villamor Air Base have been brushed aside because I would get the credit. The interest of the student was disregarded.

          The speedy purchase of the Rizal City High School over the objection of the DEPED raises questions since the sale was consummated even before the meeting of the appraisal committee. Frankly, the money could have been used elsewhere.

          The physical preparation for the Tanay Relocation Project of the city was left hanging and concocted into political propaganda of sorts rather than give it attention for our homeless. Time has now caught up with us as the MMDA has begun demolishing squatter shanties in the streets of Pasay. We must move faster in this area as we need appropriations for a small road network within the area as well as drainage and other infra for site development.

          The construction of the Pasay Public Mall and Market has also been delayed blowing away our earlier plan of transferring the market vendors inside the new market before Christmas of 2006. They are still in the streets. Negotiations with possible lessees of the mall have been stalled due to the September take over.

          The number of those employed through job fairs conducted by the PESO from September 2006 to June 2007 or ten months, was a measly 512. During my administration, 1,708 employees were hired in six months, from March 2006 to August 2006.

          The city’s sports program had a total blackout. During the 10-month period, no major sports activity was implemented. The annual summer sports clinic, the participation of the city in the Junior PBA Basketball Tournament and the planned Swim Meet were totally disregarded.

          The Pasay City Sports Complex’s income suffered. During my time, from September 2005 to June 2006, the complex earned PHP2,367,920.25 while it earned only PHP1,047,602.35 during the short-lived administration.

          Investigations are now being conducted for some reasons behind this decrease in revenue. As of this date, an employee is being investigated for falsifying receipts for the Sports Complex.

          The maintenance of the Sports Complex and the astrodome suffered also in the hands of the caretakers. The Astrodome was used as a drinking place, as evidenced by bottles of liquor recovered from the turn over. The complex was made into a gambling joint and the tiles of the park have been cracked due to the carnival rides they installed thereat.

          The termination of the employment of qualified and trained traffic personnel greatly obstructed the improvement of traffic in the city.

          Thankfully, some civil servants remained steadfast in their jobs. Though at a much slower pace, the city health department and the other offices continued with their services for our constituents. However, the proposed construction of a new health center at the Villamor Air Base did not materialize since the negotiations being conducted before September 2006 was simply ignored and not continued by the brief administration. There was also the plan to computerize the remaining eleven health centers of the city but budget was allocated for only two health centers.

          The Rescue Office was able to acquire new equipment although much more is needed. We have a courageous breed of rescue personnel and we should support them with bigger budgets.

          There were no extraordinary peace and order problems during the black months except the September 6, 2006 invasion of the city hall by Usec. Andanar of the DILG with thousands of policemen and some die-hard members of the opposing party, and the water cannon incident on February 1, 2007, with thousands of policemen when I tried to deliver a letter to city hall. I have filed administrative cases against those who violated the law. The people of Pasay condemn these acts and I am sure that others perceived as responsible have been somehow been dealt with in more painful ways.

          Aside from those mentioned above, my other areas of concern are:

          To encourage city hall employees to use the public library through promotional activities.

          To ensure strict implementation of the family code and other laws by the Civil Registry Office.

          To transform the Urban Poor Office into a dynamic, pro-active office that actively participates in other programs.

          To reduce the number of the tricycles and pedicabs in the city through the passage of supportive legislation.

          To make the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Pasay a viable public institution that provides high quality tertiary level education to our residents.

          To transfer the Traffic Office outside the Derham Park to restore the beauty of the place.

          To finish the construction of the new city hall and the Pamantasan before 2009.

          We have just struggled from certainly the hardest, longest, dirtiest and most divisive political contest in the history of Pasay City.
You and I belong to a glorious chapter in the history of Pasay City. We have each written a page in this chapter. Maybe several pages even.

          Our Lord, speaking through our people, put us where we are. He has given me back the captain’s seat which was taken from me in a manner which the people soundly rejected.

          Our people are watching. We must keep our promise. Let us not fail them.