The administration of the mayor Manila just got a
much needed boost from the private sector.
Manila Mayor Isko Morena revealed that some Chinese
businessmen gave him P20 million for the rehabilitation of a bridge near a
heritage site along the Pasig River.
The project is
aligned with the current administration’s drive to preserve Manila’s heritage and open more tourist
destinations in the capital city.
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| A happy Manila mayor Isko Moreno holding a P20M cheque (photo credit to ABS-CBN News) |
“Protecting heritage builds tourism. Tourism builds jobs and
business,” he said.
If people have jobs, it will deter crimes and
make the streets safer, the young mayor adds.
The Public Welfare Charity Foundation, the
charity arm of the Philippine Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, gave
the cheque to Moreno days after the mayor asked for funding from the private
sector.
Aside from the cheque, the Peoples Republic of
China because of the reinvigorated ties between the two countries, also funded the
construction of 2 other bridges in Metro Manila.
The 734-meter Binondo-Intramuros Bridge will connect
the two historic Manila districts of Binondo and Intramuros, while the
506-meter Estrella-Pantaleon bridge will replace the existing bridge connecting
Estrella Street in Makati City and Barangka Drive in Mandaluyong City.
Five (5) other bridges will be constructed
through “soft loans” from China, said Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines
Zhao Jianhua who paid a courtesy visit on Moreno on the same day and minutes
before the P20-million check was given to the mayor.
The Mayor already
quashed any insinuations that special privileges will be given to the Chinese in
exchange for their generosity and donations to the city.
“Wala [special favors]. Laway-laway lang. Makapal lang mukha
ko manghingi,” Moreno told reporters.
“I will not allow foreign investors to be abused and at the
same time, I will not allow foreign investors to abuse us,” he said. “They have
to follow our rules.”
Moreno, also gave his comments regarding the West
Philippine Sea issue and the issue of gambling hubs in the different sites in
the metro, he says it “does’nt concern Manila.
“It doesn’t concern Manila. I will let the national
government handle it,” Isko said.
“If they (Chinese) do business in Manila, they should be
protected the same way other businesses are protected,” Moreno adds.
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Report from ABS-CBN News
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