Incumbent Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada on Wednesday filed his certificate of candidacy to seal his bid for a third and last term at the city’s helm and fulfill his vision of bringing back the capital to its old title “Pearl of the Orient.”
Estrada was accompanied by his running mate, former congressman Amado Bagatsing. They will run under the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino, the former president’s own political party.
The tandem will carry the slogan “Team Legacy,” citing the accomplishments performed by Estrada, such as making the city debt-free, a feat he said former mayors Lito Atienza and Alfredo Lim failed to do.
Voters will be picking between the Estrada-Bagatsing pair and Social Welfare Undersecretary Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, who has convinced incumbent Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna to be his running mate.
In filing his CoC, “Erap” expressed confidence of winning the mayoralty race anew, and renewed his vow to make Manila the center of the country’s economy and a better place to live.
“Given another three years to serve the public, I will fulfill the promise of bringing back the name of Manila as the ‘Pearl of the Orient,’” the mayor told his supporters.
Bagatsing promised to support all Estrada’s undertakings to uplift the lives of Manileños.
Estrada also vowed to serve Manila “until his last breath.”
Since assuming the mayoralty, the former president has embarked on a massive urban renewal program to clean up and beautify the capital city.
Among his accomplishments in Manila are the construction of six new hospitals equipped with the latest medical equipment.
He also vowed to complete the construction of the New Manila Bay International Community on reclaimed land in Manila Bay to spur the city’s economic growth.
Born in Tondo, Manila in 1937, the former movie star said he has given priority to the Manila’s poorest, providing them with free medical assistance, education, job opportunities and distribution of land titles to landless Manileños.