Go Mayor Lito Atienza

Various religious groups, including the influential Iglesia ni Cristo have endorsed the candidacy of comebacking Manila Mayor Lito Atienza.

Apart from INC, Atienza is also being supported by Brother Mike Velarde of El Shaddai, Ustadz Ahmad Barcelom of the Manila Muslim community, Parish Councils of Manila as well as the majority of the city's barangay chairmen, barangay councilors and watchmen and the pro-poor organization People's Movement Against Poverty (PMAP).

It is widely known that the Iglesia ni Cristo has a huge following in the city. With the endorsement of the group, Atienza gains another 5 percent solid votes.

Based on the survey conducted last April 29, Atienza gained a 7 percentage lead against his toughest rival, incumbent Mayor Alfredo Lim. With the INC votes, it can now be considered that Atienza is 12 percent leading against his opponent.

Meanwhile, El Shaddai leader Mike Velarde earlier said Manila needs a pro-life mayor.

“Atienza is not only pro-life, but also pro-good government," he added.

According to Msgr. Mel David, one of Atienza's spiritual advisers, he knows the former Environment secretary too well. “He has a good heart and he is very sincere in wanting to uplift the lives of Manilans. He is pro-God and represents good governance.”

On the other hand, PMAP president Ronald Lumbao said he endorsed the candidacy of Atienza because apart from being a God-fearing person, he believes that the former Environment secretary has a genuine concern to help and improve the plight of the poor.

“His programs answer the needs of the poor community of Manila. He's very much unlike the incumbent mayor who doesn't care about the less fortunate," Lumbao said.

The Muslim community also back Atienza's candidacy, saying he maintains friendship and communication with them despite the difference in belief and religion.

Meanwhile, 650 out of the 897 barangay chairmen, and most of the barangay kagawads and tanods said that they witnessed how the former and present mayor managed the city. They claimed that they were able to prove that Atienza is the one who has a genuine heart to help the people, especially the poor.

Atienza said he is grateful for all the endorsements. He thanked all those who believe in him and his programs and vowed to do his best to improve the quality of life of the Manilans by creating jobs and provide livelihood and other opportunities for all.

Mayor Alfredo Lim Accused Ali Atienza As Drug Addict

Mayoralty candidate Alfredo Lim was cornered at the Polo Club Mayoral debate hosted by the Rotary Club of Manila last April 22, 2010. Various social issues were tackled by the competing candidates during the debate. The discussion went over the issue of drug trade and use, with Lim noting his continuous campaign in preventing the said activities. Lito Atienza, Lim's opponent for the election, was unconvinced of Lim's statements following the arrest of Lim's son for selling drugs.

In 2008, the authorities apprehended Lim's son, Manuel Lim for selling illegal drugs, an offense that is nonbailable an carries with it life imprisonment. Manila mayor Alfredo Lim, admitted that his son was busted by the PDEA in 2008, but denied helping his son. Lim, feeling cornered in the discussion, showed resistance to the topic by accusing the son of his opponent, Ali Atienza, a drug addict. Ali Atienza, who was in the audience, said to Lim that his accusations was impossible considering that he was an international athlete who complied with the strict drug testing procedures prior to competing in the taekwondo arena.

Embarassed with his accusation, Lim tried to come out clean by saying that it was former vice mayor Lacuna who said that Ali was a drug addict. Ali then went on the stage and lectured Alfredo Lim about his track record as a national athlete.Lim, at that moment, humiliatingly yield to the fumes of the young Atienza, as the moderators of the debate took control of the situation. Lito Atienza remained calm despite the events and managed to continue the debate.

The debate ended in a detached manner, with Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim trying to redeem himself from the embarrassing accusation he dropped against Ali Atienza. Unfortunately, Lim must have forgotten that the audience was professional Rotarians. Lim usually gets away with his mediocre style of campaigning when he is facing customary crowd of tricycle drivers, vendors and the likes, but he must consider that he was facing professionals. It is just discouraging to see candidates speaking ill about their competitors. Considering that these candidates are educated, people were expecting an intellectual discussion from them to prove their capabilities to lead.

Ali Atienza will not easily let go of Lim's allegations, stating that he would be filing a libel case against the mayor. The son of Lito Atienza noted that it pained him, as a former athlete, to be accused of being a drug addict. The young Atienza also pointed out that it was really impossible for an athlete to compete if he has been found using illicit drugs, making Lim's accusations a look more like fabricated story. Even after the election, Atienza is decided to file charges against Lim to protect his reputation.

With election 2010 nearing, it is normal to hear candidates speaking ill against their competitors. This instance has been going on in our country for a long time now as a means for the candidates to come clean from their own imperfections. However, for the candidates, they must also realize that by doing this they are also tarnishing their own reputation in the process. This is because the public has already given up with the ongoing political drama, and prefer leaders who knows how to walk the talk over those who talks and talks.

With the election 2010 coming, the Rotary Club of Manila held a mayoralty debate at the Manila Polo Club. Mayoralty candidates Alfredo Lim and Lito Atienza attended the said program. However, what appears to be a simple debate turned sour after Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim accused the son of his opponent, Ali Atienza, a drug user. The allegation directed by Lim caused a bit of hysteria among the audience, and angered the young Atienza and their family's supporters.

Lito Atienza And The Things That He Has Done

Actions speak louder than words. In the case of former Manila mayor Lito Atienza he had succeeded in doing both.One of the most revered leaders of the nation's capital, the former mayor was able to back up his strong words with actions. Staying true to his words and fulfilling his promise of providing his beloved Manilenos with a city that they can truly call their own and which they will care for, Lito Atienza has done more things than any of his immediate predecessors.

One of the most accomplished mayors in Manila's rich political history Lito Atienza's mayoralty stint is highlighted by numerous completed projects and other countless achievements no other city mayor of Manila was able to achieve.No one has to go that far in evaluating Atienza's performance as the city mayor of Manila for an unprecedented three consecutive three-year term, we just have to look back at how Manila looked and the living of conditions its residents were three years ago. The Atienza administration is characterized by the radical transformation in the city's economy, tourism, peace and order and education. Moreover, it was during Atienza's term when many poor families were uplifted from poverty and enjoyed improved living conditions.

Being a true statesman and public servant serving selflessly for the good of many, Atienza delivered what was needed by many of his impoverished city folks. It was also under his leadership that the city's delivery of social services was at its best. Atienza created pro-poor programs and priority projects which have benefited and improved the lives of thousands of impoverished Manilenos. He was able to address almost all the social needs of his people through the creation of programs for housing, healthcare, peace and order, education, sports, arts and culture, nature and environment and welfare of senior citizens.

Atienza created livelihood programs and employment opportunities for the unemployed by bringing the city's economy back into life. He launched training programs and vocational courses for the out of school youth and unemployed to provide them with a decent livelihood and a stable source of income. Atienza together with other non-government organizations have launched affordable housing and land acquisition projects for the homeless, which were able to benefit many of the city's poor residents and even the middle class.

The city's healthcare services and public hospitals were also enhanced during his administration. Atienza added more funds for the city's public hospitals and health centers which allowed them to purchase new medical equipment and medicines for enhanced healthcare services and to be able to provide free medicines to the city's impoverished residents. Atienza was able to bring free medical services and medicines to far-flung areas and barangays.

Manila under Atienza's leadership has had the best peace and order situation in many years. In support of Manila's budding athletes and promising talents, Atienza launched sports-culminating activities and provided free training and development programs to harness their skills and talents.In addition, Atienza also provided free access to education and school supplies to Manila's public school students. Manila's colleges and universities were also improved during his term, as part of fulfilling his promise of providing quality and affordable college education to Manilenos. Furthermore, many of the city's senior residents were also able to enjoy greater benefits under the former mayor's program for the senior citizens which included special services, big discounts and other freebies.

The former environment secretary also voted for the relocation of the oil depot in Pandacan which he believes is a serious environmental and safety threat.Manila was also able to enjoy a major facelift as Atienza pushed forward for the beautification and enhancement of the city's old and deteriorating parks and other tourist attractions. One of the most notable projects of the former mayor is the improvement of the city's bay area commonly known as the "Baywalk", which has allowed city residents, as well as local and foreign tourists to enjoy alfresco dining and listening to fine music while watching the world-renowned Manila Bay sunset.

Atienza's unrivaled accomplishments during his term make him as the best person to vote for mayor in this coming Manila elections. If he wins another three-year mandate in this coming Manila elections, Manila along with its residents are set to enjoy another three glorious years under the leadership of Lito Atienza.

Lito Atienza is the best person to vote for mayor in this coming Manila election. Atienza is one of the most accomplished mayors in Manila's rich political history and has done more things than any of his predecessors. The Atienza administration is best described by the dramatic transformation in the city's economy, tourism, peace and order and education. He succeeded in addressing almost all the social needs of his people by creating programs for housing, healthcare, peace and order, education, sports, arts and culture, nature and environment and welfare of senior citizens.

Pandacan Oil Depot, Baywalk, And The Railroad

By Neal Cruz
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 21:28:00 03/23/2010

THE PANDACAN OIL DEPOT, BAYWALK AND traffic were again the topics of discussion among political leaders of Manila and Parañaque last Monday. Reps. Amado Bagatsing of Manila and Eduardo Zialcita of Parañaque, and former Manila Councilor Ali Atienza, representing his father, former Mayor Lito Atienza who was busy escorting Manny Pacquiao in a homecoming motorcade, were the guests at the Kapihan sa Manila. Bagatsing is running for reelection, Zialcita is running for mayor of Parañaque, and Atienza is campaigning for his father.

The three agreed that the depot should be relocated as it poses a danger to residents of Pandacan in case of fire or a terrorist attack on the depot.

But where? Anywhere the oil companies like, was the answer.

The depot was the subject of controversy when the city government told the oil companies to relocate it because of the danger it poses to Pandacan residents. The oil firms resisted, claiming that relocation would be expensive and that the prices of fuel may have to be raised as a result.

But they will make a lot of money by selling the land to a mall or a land developer, the politicians said. Mall owners and land developers would outbid one another to buy that land. Contrary to common belief, the oil companies, not the city of Manila, own the land on which the depot stands.

Relocating the depot, at enormous expense, won’t solve the problem, however. The oil tanks can be relocated on vacant land—but only in the beginning. In due time, people will build their homes closer and closer to the depot, as what happened in Pandacan, and the same problem will crop up again.

The solution, as I see it, is to relocate the depot on reclaimed land in the middle of Manila Bay so that squatters cannot get close to it. Also, in case of fire, it would not spread to nearby communities and there would be plenty of water to put it out. Furthermore, oil and fuel can be barged in and out of the depot instead of being serviced by hundreds of tankers that clog the roads leading to and away from it. And when the oil companies need more space, all they have to do is reclaim more land from the sea. They can even build a pier where ocean-going oil tankers can load and unload oil and fuel.

What to do with the land once the depot leaves it was the next area of discussion.

That’s up to the buyer. Most likely, a shopping mall and high-rise condominiums would be constructed there to maximize the use and its investments. That would lead to the development of the Pandacan area and provide jobs to its residents. Being beside the Pasig River, the area provides a lot of opportunities for development, probably making it the New Orleans of Asia.

Furthermore, transportation would be plentiful. Besides land transportation, the mall and surrounding community can be serviced by ferryboats.

The politicians believe that medium-rise residential buildings should be reserved for the local residents who would provide the work force for the commercial establishments there.

What about Baywalk? When he was mayor, Atienza allowed the construction of many cabanas-cum-restaurants along the strip of Roxas Boulevard nearest the sea. When Alfredo Lim became mayor, he removed these cabanas because of complaints that they blocked the view of the famous Manila Bay sunset and that the noise disturbed the nearby residents. That is not a commercial area. That is an area for relaxation, City Hall said.

But Ali Atienza said that if his father becomes mayor again, he would restore the cabanas. A board walk would be constructed on the other side of the breakwater, he said.

But the cabanas would still block the view of the sunset, some critics said. And the noise would come back. Plus Roxas Boulevard would be clogged again with traffic.

Perhaps a ferry system on Manila Bay to service not only Baywalk but other communities along the bay can be set up. In fact, the ferry to Cavite can be revived, thus relieving the coastal roads of traffic jams.

To pursue this further, the Philippines, being an archipelago, should have efficient ferry systems nationwide. The Manila ferry on the Pasig River should be expanded and given incentives to make the ride more comfortable. The ferry will relieve the narrow roads of Metro Manila of land traffic. Also, the ferry can provide the lakeshore communities of Rizal and Laguna with another transportation system besides their narrow, traffic-choked roads.

A ferry through the Tenejeros-Tullahan River from Bulacan to Manila will relieve the congestion on MacArthur Highway. Boats and barges used to ply this river to take passengers and commerce to and from Bulacan and points north. Flat-bottomed barges, called “cascos”, carrying salt, rice, nipa shingles, and vinegar were poled along the river to and from Bulacan. We used to wait on the riverbank for these barges to buy what we needed.

When the Americans enticed us to buy their land vehicles instead, the barges and ferries faded away, and now our roads are choked with imported vehicles wasting precious dollars on fuel. Our boat-building industry has died. Imagine an archipelagic nation not having a boat-building industry and dependent totally on imported land vehicles.

Another mode of transportation we have neglected is the railroad. Anywhere in the world, in rich countries and poor, the railroad is the cheapest and most efficient means of transportation for both passengers and cargo. We used to have an efficient railroad from La Union to Albay up to the administration of President Diosdado Macapagal. Alas, the railroad was neglected by succeeding presidents. It is only now that there are feeble efforts to revive it. The next president should not only revive it but expand it.

Bandera Tapatan: Lito Atienza's Side

By: Marvin Balute
Source: Bandera
Published: 3-12-2010


Panayam ng Bandera kay Lito Atienza

Si Lito Atienza, 59, ay ipinanganak sa San Andres Bukid noong Agosto 10, 1941.
Bago naging Secretary ng Environment and Natural Resources, natapos ni Atienza ang tatlong termino bilang mayor ng Maynila. Ngayong darating na halalan ay sasabak muli siya sa pagkamayor ng lungsod. Iboboto ba siya ng Manileño?

BANDERA: Ano ang dahilan kung bakit nais ninyong maging mayor ng Maynila?
Lito Atienza: Kailangan ng programang pangkabuhayan para sa mga Manileño kaya muli akong tatakbo. Noong panahon ko ay mayroon tayong itinulak na “buhayin ang Maynila” which helped the city.

Ano ang tatlong dahilan kung bakit kayo ang dapat iboto ng mamamayan ng inyong syudad? may massive housing program kami at land for the landlesspeace and order. Manila became most peaceful dati-rati. Number one kami sa peace and order pero nawala na. Laganap ngayon ang krimen. Graft and corruption ay dapat lutasin.

Kung sakaling kayo ay mahalal ano ang tatlong bagay na inyong gagawin sa unang 100 araw ninyo sa puwesto? (Hindi lang tatlo ang tinukoy)Ipagpatuloy ang kampanya laban sa droga. Wala kaming naki-kitang drug campaign in Manila sa ngayon kaya ipagpapatuloy ko ang kampanya laban sa droga. Babawiin ang Century Park Tanggalin ang oil depot at ilipat sa isang lugar na malayo sa pamayanan at ilipat sa malapit sa dagat. Hindi totoong maraming nakatira sa Pandacan ang nagtatrabaho sa oil depot, karamihan sa mga empleyado sa oil depot ay hindi taga-Pandacan. Kapag naalis na natin ang oil depot ay papasukin na ng mga negosyante yan dahil papagandahin natin yan. Magtatatag ako ng malawakang urban poor affairs and poverty alleviation office. Diyan natin ilalagay ang programa lahat ng usapin sa pagtulong sa mahihirap. Tatanggalin ang “kamag-anak incorporated”.
I-rank mula sa pinaka importante hanggang sa least important ang mga sumusunod na problema ng Maynila — squatters, garbage, peace and order, drugs, illegal gambling; at bakit? Hindi inaayos ng isa-isa yan kundi sabay-sabay na asikasuhin. Peace and order, drugs, pabahay lahat yan dapat asikasuhin at ayusin. Ang bottom line niyan ay ekonomiya, kung maayos ang ekonomiya ay walang kahirapan.

Pinaka malaking problema ng Maynila, paano ito sosolusyunan? Kailangan palusugin ang ekonomiya. Kapag may trabaho, negosyo ang tao, ang gobyerno ay mayroong maayos na koleksyon at marami kang maibibgay para sa mga mamamayan. Babaguhin ko ang pananaw ng mga tao hinggil sa “kotong” at dapat walang kotong. Peace and order pa rin laban sa krimen, drug addict at drug pusher.

Ano ang tatlong bagay na meron ka at wala ang kalaban mo? Experience in management, 9 years continued service. Naging Cabinet member tayo ng isang pinakamalaking kagawaran ng ating gobyerno national. Vision pa rin natin na buhayin ang Maynila which is to fight poverty. Yung dalawang kalaban natin (Lim at Avelino Razon) ay parehong pulis palagay ko naman ay deperensya ng pulis mentality at civilian ay fundamental and basic.
Ano rin naman ang tatlong bagay na meron ang kalaban mo na wala ka? Mga pangalan nila (laughs). Wala akong nakikitang kaibahan nila. Actually, I think they are the same sa kanilang kakayahan.

Malaki ang problema ng Maynila sa abortion, paano ninyo ito sosolusyunan? Yan ang nilalabanan namin. The most heinous crime that a man can commit is abortion, ang pinapatay mo diyan ay ang pinakainosenteng buhay ng tao, ang sanggol. Patuloy kaming magbibigay ng edukasyon sa mga tao na huwag maging iresponsable. Ipagpapatuloy ko ang “responsible parenthood” at proper values. Ang abortion kasi ay galing sa irresponsible parenthood.

Ano ang posisyon nyo sa RH bill? Kontra ako sa RH bill dahil maling solusyon yan sa isang problema ng bayan. Hindi solusyon ang magbawas ng tao, hindi pa ba tayo natuto na ang China ay pinakamaraming tao pero sila ay maunlad na bansa. Mag-kontrol ka pero gamitin mo yung natural na paraan. Mali yung katulad ngayon na nagkakalat ang “condom” sa Avenida Rizal, para nilang sinabi sa mga kabataan na gawin ninyo ang gusto ninyong gawin basta gumamit kayo ng condom mali iyon.

Anong lifestyle meron si Atienza?

BANDERA: Ilang bahay meron po kayo? Dalawang bahay yung isa town house sa Ecoville.
Sa bahay na tinutuluyan ninyo ngayon, ilang silid meron ito? Dalawa at doon natutulog ang dalawa na-ming ampon dahil yung mga anak ko ay may mga pamilya na at may sarili na rin silang bahay.
Ilan ang cr? Dalawa
Ilan ang kasambahay? Tatlo, yung isa naka-focus sa dalawang ampon namin.
Ilang sasakyan meron kayo? Ang naka-rehistro sa akin ay yung ibinigay ni Manny Pacquiao na Toyota Land Cruiser. Yung ibang sasakyan ay sa mga anak ko.
Ilan ang driver? Isa lang.
Magkano ang ilalabas ninyong pera sa eleksyong ito?
Lito Atienza: Wala pang exact figure ng expenses, pagkatapos ng election saka natin malalaman yan. Galing lang sa mga tunay na kaibigan ang tumutulong.

Maaari ba naming malaman kung sino ang top 3 fund contributors ninyo? Puro long time friends ang tumutulong sa aten.