MAYOR Isko Moreno is back — and he didn’t waste a second showing that this is not going to be a quiet comeback.
Day one pa lang, trabaho agad. No grand fanfare, no time wasted. In his inaugural speech on July 1, Yorme stood at the podium not to celebrate a victory, but to deliver a reality check.
He exposed the mess left behind — a city drowning in garbage, debt, corruption and disorganized systems. Manila, he said bluntly, is in the Intensive Care Unit or ICU. At hindi siya nagbibiro.
A staggering ₱10.2 billion in unpaid obligations. Overdue payments that were ignored for more than a year. City finances misused and unaccounted for.
He even called out specific individuals with unliquidated cash advances, warning them to come clean. This wasn’t just a speech — it was a public audit.
And in classic Moreno fashion, he made it personal. “Binola n’yo ang mga lolo’t lola ko. Binudol ninyo.” That line struck a nerve — and rightly so. It reminded everyone that public service isn’t a game. There are real consequences when leaders fail.
But the city chief executive didn’t stop at exposing the damage. He rolled out his game plan: clean the streets, remove “kotong” traffic enforcers, restore public order, light up dark areas, and protect the vulnerable.
He declared a state of public health emergency over the garbage crisis and gave clear instructions to the Manila Police and the Social Welfare Department to act fast. It’s the kind of leadership that doesn’t wait around. Trabaho agad. Galaw-galaw, Manila.
Still, one thing’s clear — Isko can’t do this alone. The problems of Manila are too big for one man, even one with a 24/7 work ethic. We can’t expect change if citizens keep tolerating the same bad habits: illegal parking, bribing enforcers, littering, breaking curfews.
Kung gusto nating umasenso ang Maynila, dapat ang lahat ay may ambag. Discipline has to come from both the top and the ground.
Mayor Isko is moving with urgency, clarity, and guts. But for his bold agenda to work, Manileños need to match his energy — with action, cooperation, and accountability.
He has already lit the fire. Now it’s the Manilen̈os’ turn to keep it burning.
