Lacuna, Servo seek reelection as Manila mayor, vice mayor

MANILA, Philippines — Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna and Vice Mayor Yul Servo on Thursday filed their certificates of candidacy (COC) for their second term.

Lacuna and Servo, running under the local party Asenso Manileño, lodged their COCs at SM Manila.

In Lacuna’s State of the City address, she announced upcoming projects, including the completion of the new Pritil Market, a modernized city library, the operation of five new city facilities, and the awarding of residential projects.

She promised that these projects would be completed if she would be reelected.

“Dapat naman po talaga ipagtuloy namin ang aming ginagawa. Siyempre lahat po ng serbisyo, programa, at proyekto ay diretso talaga, ‘yung nadarama po ng hindi lang iilan kung hindi lahat ng mga Manileño,” Lacuna said in an ambush interview after filing her COC.

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(We need to continue what we are doing. Of course, all services, programs, and projects must directly benefit not just a few but all Manileños.)

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She also said that she has been working alongside Servo in completing several projects and programs that have yet to be completed by the previous administration.

“Noon pang nakaraang administrasyon, mayroon pong mga programang sinimulan lamang. Pero tinapos ko po, pinagpatuloy ko, at magpahanggang ngayon po ay ‘yung obligasyon namin sa mga proyekto na ‘yon, ako po ang dadala,” Lacuna said.

(During the previous administration, some programs were only started. I completed and continued them, and up to now, I am still responsible for those projects.)

When asked about former Manila mayor Isko Moreno’s possible mayoral bid, Lacuna said she wishes him well.

“Good luck po sa kanya kung itutuloy niya ang pagtakbo niya bilang alkalde,” she said.

(Good luck if he decides to continue his mayoral bid.)

She also mentioned that she and Moreno had one conversation in August, but they have yet to speak since then.

“I think August pa. That was the last time po na nakapag-usap kami. Nagpaalam lang po siya na binabalak po nyan tumakbo,” she said.

(I think it was in August when we last spoke. He just informed me that he was planning to run.)

“Siyempre po inisip ko muna ano yung mga kadahilanan kung bakit siya babalik. Dahil bago po siya umalis sa Maynila, napaklaro po sa amin ni Vice [Mayor] Yul at sa buong partido Asenso Manileño, maging sa mga kababayan natin sa Maynila na hindi na po siya tatakbo pang muli,” she added.

(Of course, I first thought about why he would return. Before he left Manila, it was made clear to Vice Mayor Yul, the entire Asenso Manileno party, and our constituents in Manila that he would not run again.)

READ: Manila’s Lacuna: I’m giving Isko Moreno time to reconsider mayoral bid

Lacuna also clarified that she has never engaged in mudslinging and promised to maintain this stance moving forward.

“Ever since po na ako’y tumatakbo, hindi ko ugali ‘yung mudslinging. Hindi po kami pinalaki ng aking mga magulang na manira po ng ibang tao. Kung meron man po kaming sasabihin, pawang katotohanan lamang at kung meron po kaming ilalatag, ‘yun po yung mga proyekto o programang gusto po naming maramdaman ng bawat isang Manileño dito,” she said.

(Since I started my campaign, I have never engaged in mudslinging. My parents raised me not to speak ill of others. If we have something to say, it will be the truth, and we will present the projects or programs we want every Manila resident to experience.)

Under Lacuna’s term, Manila has achieved the National Level of the Seal of Good Local Governance for the first time, as awarded by the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

“Out of the 33 highly urbanized cities, Manila has proudly secured its position as the 2nd Most Competitive City in the entire country. This achievement reflects the relentless efforts and unwavering commitment of our city towards progress,” Lacuna said in a statement.