Former Mayor Isko Moreno 鈥擯hoto from his office
MANILA 鈥� The moment his boots hit the ground, 鈥淵orme鈥� will waste no time in cleaning up the city.
鈥淔irst of all, I will clean up Manila again,鈥� former Manila Mayor Francisco 鈥淚sko Moreno鈥� Domagoso, affectionately called 鈥淵orme鈥� by Manile帽os, said in Filipino.
Domagoso, a garbage collector during his younger days, made this assurance to clean up the city鈥檚 streets as he geared up for the upcoming 2025 midterm elections.
鈥淚 will remove filthiness,鈥� Domagoso said, stressing that he will restore cleanliness and peace and order to the nation鈥檚 capital.
鈥淐riminality in Manila, I will crush 鈥� snatchings and holdups here and there,鈥� he said.
The former mayor, whose administration was well-received and recognized by various award-giving bodies, expressed his vision of a city where residents could live peacefully and without fear of lawlessness.
鈥淚 will return tranquility in the life of the city to what it was before 鈥� so that while you sleep through midnight, you will feel very secure and have a restful slumber,鈥� he said.
鈥淲e will bring back order in the city. We will bring back certainty in the city. Cleanliness, orderliness, peace and order, we will give it back to you,鈥� he stressed.
Domagoso gained recognition for his swift actions in improving Manila鈥檚 landscape, including clearing illegal vendors, restoring public spaces, and ensuring efficient public service delivery.
His administration also implemented extensive financial reforms and crisis-response measures, such as the groundbreaking distance learning program during the COVID-19 pandemic.
During his term, the city government made significant investments in education, allocating nearly P1 billion to procure 110,000 tablets for students and 11,000 laptops for teachers to support online learning.
His administration also gained praise for revitalizing Manila鈥檚 streets, improving waste management, and rehabilitating public markets and parks.
The former mayor鈥檚 efforts to restore historic sites, such as the redevelopment of the Manila Zoo and the lighting of Jones Bridge, were also widely lauded.