PRESS RELEASE July 11, 2010
Isko intensifies campaign against Dengue
by Annie L. Tubera

Acting Manila Mayor Isko Moreno yesterday called on school officials and those in the barangay to aid in the fight against dengue by orienting students and residents and school utility personnel about how to keep their surroundings clean and dengue-free at all times.

Moreno noted recent reports that a high incidence of dengue cases have been recorded in certain areas in Manila, including a barangay in the city’s third district and a school.

The acting mayor said that program orientations should be conducted among students and residents for them to be able to pinpoint possible breeding areas for mosquitoes that carry the dengue virus.

“It is also important to make them aware of ways and means to keep their surroundings clean all the time and how to properly dispose of mosquito-breeding places such as old tires which stock rain water, bottles and stagnant water,” Moreno said.

He also stressed that minors who are usually in the carefree stage are more prone to getting the illness since they play even in the nooks and crannies of their school premises.

“This is why it is highly important that even the students are made aware of what should and can be done by them to keep dengue-carrying mosquitoes away from the school surroundings,” Moreno added.

Moreno said that involving even the children in the campaign against dengue is also tantamount to instilling in them the value of hygiene and sanitation and the importance of being responsible citizens.

The acting mayor likewise stated that the awareness efforts should start immediately, in view of the onset of the rainy season.

“School premises, especially, should be an area of concern since children spend a lot of time there, being their second homes”, Moreno said.

PRESS RELEASE July 9, 2010
Isko supports Sr. Supt. Alex Gutierrez as MPD Director
by Annie L. Tubera

Acting Manila Mayor Isko Moreno yesterday strongly pushed for the immediate installation of Senior Supt. Alex Gutierrez as Manila Police District (MPD) director.

During a meeting with SPO2 Virgo Villareal, president of the Manila’s Finest Brotherhood Association, Inc. (MFBAI) and former officials SPO3 Antonio Emmanuel (ex-officio), SPO2 Willy Figueroa, SPO2 Sesma Choi and SPO2 Dave Tuazon, Moreno expressed full support to their position that Gutierrez be made to assume as replacement for Gen. Rodolfo Magtibay who has been transferred from the MPD to head the Northern Police District.

Moreno said that just like Mayor Alfredo S. Lim, he is of the stance that the MPD must be headed by someone who enjoys the `full trust and confidence’ of the city’s mayor, its officials and citizens.

Gutierrez, he said, is not only a true-blue Manila policeman who rose from the ranks but is also the choice not only of Mayor Lim but also of himself and the entire 38-member city council for the post of MPD chief.

Moreno said that the city council where he is the presiding officer has unanimously passed a resolution endorsing Gutierrez for the position.

Sponsored on the floor by veteran Councilor Bernie Ang (3rd district), the said resolution did not meet any opposition even from members of the minority, the acting mayor stressed.

Ang’s resolution stated that with the advent of the new administration, a wave of major leadership assignments in the Philippine National Police (PNP) is expected `to ensure that the mission of the national leadership in the area of law enforcement and crime prevention will be duly, efficiently and effectively addressed.’

The said resolution which expressed `strong and total support’ for Gutierrez’s appointment as MPD director also stressed that the Manila Police District is a “position of major responsibility, considering that whoever will be appointed will handle the sensitive job of organizing a protective umbrella over the national capital and ensure that peace and order and security will prevail in the seat of power which is the Malacanang complex.”

Moreno said it is about time that the higher PNP authorities put prime consideration on what the officials, police and residents of Manila really want.

“Aside from the city councilors, Mayor Lim and I are also of the same position that Gutierrez is the rightful person to head the MPD,” he stated.

Moreno also likened the situation to the case of a home owner seeking someone to secure his place of abode.

“Siyempre, kung ako ang me ari ng bahay at kukuha ako ng mangangalaga sa aking kaligtasan, ang pipiliin ko ay `yung taong pinagkakatiwalaan ko,” he said.

It was learned that early yesterday morning, the members of the MFBAI unfurled a huge tarpaulin in front of the MPD headquarters on U.N. Avenue extending their greetings for Gutierrez and thanking Magtibay for having served the MPD as its chief.

However, the scheduled turnover of command did not push through for reasons still unclear to the members of the MPD, although sources said that the order for Gutierrez to assume directorship was `suddenly’ held in abeyance by higher authorities.

Gutierrez, meanwhile, could not be contacted for comment.

PRESS RELEASE June 5, 2010
Isko represents Manila on "The US Mayor and Local Governments"
by Annie L. Tubera

Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno yesterday left for the United States to represent the city in an international gathering.

According to an authority to travel (ATT) issued by Mayor Alfredo S. Lim, Moreno will be attending the affair on official time from June 4 to 29.

Moreno, the mayor said, will be representing the city government of Manila to the International Visitor Leadership Program on “The US Mayor and Local Governments” which will be held in Washington D.C.

It was learned that Moreno is the only Filipino attending the said occasion, where his counterparts from various countries will also be present.

“Said travel shall be made in accordance with memorandum circular No. 2006-22 of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) governing the foreign travel of local government officials and employees and pertinent provisions of the Local Government Code,” the ATT stated.

Lim said the city government will not incur any additional expenses as a result of the said travel, except for the payment of the vice mayor’s salary during the said period.

Moreno left at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) at 6:30 a.m. yesterday, passing through the normal procedures and check processes.

PRESS RELEASE May 20, 2010
Early Christmas Gifts for City Employees
Annie L. Tubera

Acting Manila Mayor Isko Moreno has announced that as a fitting tribute to the employees of City Hall who have been rendering outstanding service to the residents, Mayor Alfredo S. Lim has decided to give them early Christmas gifts.

Moreno said that before leaving for a vacation abroad, Lim has instructed him to make sure that the employees are able to get their cash gifts which are normally released in the middle of the year.

Aside from this, Moreno said half of the 13th month pay which is usually given at the end of the year, was also ordered released by Lim this month.

The cash gifts, which range from P8,000 to P15,000, covers all employes of City Hall, numbering about 10,000.

Topping all of these, Moreno sent the City Hall employees clapping in wild cheers when he announced that Mayor Lim and himself have also discussed plans to embark on a housing program for the civil servants of the city.

“Ang tangi lang naming hinihingi sa inyo ay bigyan natin ng serbisyong laging nakangiti ang mga nagpupunta sa City Hall at nangangailangan ng tulong, lalo na `yung mga nagbabayad ng buwis,” Moreno said.

The acting mayor also called on the city employees and officials to never get tired of serving the public, stressing that not everybody gets to have the same opportunity of being a public servant.

“Isipin natin na ang pagiging lingkod-bayan ay isang pribilehiyo na hindi lahat ng tao ay nabibiyayaan. Isa itong hamon sa ating lahat upang pagbutihin ang ating serbisyo sa abot ng ating makakayanan,” Moreno stressed.