REVIEW. Manila City Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso checks the map of government's infrastructure projects showing private properties that may be affected during a dialogue with the Sampaloc People's Alliance, Paco People's Alliance, Tondo People's Alliance, and Samahan ng mga Apektadong Pamilya sa Balic-Balic at the Manila City Hall on Tuesday (Oct. 1). (Photo courtesy of Manila Public Information Office)
MANILA -- Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso on Tuesday vowed to review infrastructure projects of the national government that may affect private lot owners in the city.
The leaders of the Sampaloc People's Alliance, Paco People's Alliance, Tondo People's Alliance, and Samahan ng mga Apektadong Pamilya sa Balic-Balic asked for Domagoso’s help as their homes and other private properties may be affected by at least two major infrastructure projects.
These are the North-South Railway Project of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the NLEX-SLEX Road Connector Project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
"We will ask UP (University of the Philippines) if they will accept to restudy. Wala tayong doubt kung anong resulta (We would have no doubt what would be the result). I would trust a university because a university will not expose itself, its credibility against favoring somebody," Domagoso said.
The group leaders noted that there is a “lack of transparency on the national government's NLEX-SLEX Connector project”.
Meanwhile, a Tondo resident, Theresa Alvarez, requested that the private properties be spared from the project.
"Lahat po ng mga apo ko, mga anak ko, at pati lahat ng kamag anak na nakatira doon, is andoon po lahat ng kabuhayan at saka malapit po sa lahat, mga matatakbuhang ospital o market (All my grandchildren and children all live there, and so are their livelihood. Also, our place is close to the hospitals and markets)," Alvarez said.
Domagoso assured the residents that the Manila City Council would act on their grievances, provided that they write a formal position paper addressed to the Office of the Vice Mayor.
"Let’s limit our expectations. Dahan-dahanin natin parang maging makatwiran tayo, ayoko ng false hope. Tutupdin ko yung pangako ko sa inyo. Kailangan ko lang ng authority sa (Let’s do this slowly so we can be reasonable, I don’t like false hope. I’ll fulfill what I’ve promised. I just need the authority from the) council to spend that amount of money," he said. (PNA)
