As the capital of the Philippines, the city of Manila boasts numerous tourist spots and promises vast opportunities to individuals seeking their fortune. It is presently home to more than 14 million Filipinos hailing from different regions. Its prestigious recognition comes from the city’s mayors, who perpetually uphold excellence that sets the standards for Manileños’ quality of living.
Over the years, the city saw its fair share of mayors who advocated particular sectors for improvement, such as health, education, infrastructure, and more. However, it seldom encounters leaders who explore all possible avenues for improvement to receive the best results for everyone.
With the 2022 elections coming up, the position of Manila mayor is up for grabs among several contenders who vow to contribute to the city’s greatness and continue its journey towards development for the greater good of its citizens. Among the candidates running for mayor is Amado Bagatsing.
Bagatsing was born on December 3, 1947, in Sampaloc, Manila, making him a true-blooded Manileño and aware of all the changes its local government needs to address. He later graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, something that he put to good use later in his political life. Moreover, he is also the son of the longest-serving Manila mayor Ramon D. Bagatsing and the brother of former congressman Atty. Dondon Bagatsing of the Fourth District of Manila.
As a member of the Bagatsing family, he learned how to navigate through the political scene from his father, who practiced good governance and was genuinely concerned about the welfare of the Manileños during their time in office.
Bagatsing first ran and won as a member of the congress of Manila’s Fifth District in 1987 and lasted in office until 1998. After nine (9) years of absence in politics, he later ran for the same political seat in 2007 and effortlessly won, allowing him to serve his district until 2016.
Throughout the decades he served Manila, Bagatsing proved himself worthy of the position through a series of projects and contributions aimed to support Manileños. One of his notable works include the establishment of the non-government organization (NGO) “Kabalikat ng Bayan sa Kaunlaran” or popularly known as KABAKA.
It eventually lived up to his promise of a better life for the people of Manila as it gathered more than 150,000 members throughout the city by providing free consultation, free medicine, and free diagnostic services, such as 2D echo with doppler, ultrasound, ECG, x-ray, and free laboratories for those in need. It also offers vocational courses that equip people with the right skills to land a source of livelihood in the bustling city.
All these benefits are free, and members are encouraged to visit their clinic in Pandacan, Manila, for consultations.
Yet health and employment aren’t the only sectors that KABAKA, under the leadership of Amado, focuses on. He also added programs for education where all its courses are TESDA-approved through the KABAKA Manpower Training and Assessment Center Inc.
Apart from working as a congressman, Bagatsing also participated in several committees, such as the Committee on Housing (8th Congress), Committee on Accounts (8th Congress), Committee on Civil Service and Profession Regulation (10th Congress), Committee on Games and Amusements (14th and 15th Congress), Oversight Committee on Clean Water Act (16th Congress), and the Committee on Ecology (16th Congress).
He also served as the Vice-Chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council and as the Alternate Chairman of the National Task Force Against Professional Squatters and Squatting Syndicate.
Each responsibility is more than just a position for the public servant. For Bagatsing, these are stepping stones to realizing the problems in Manila’s communities and finding the ideal solution that benefits all.
The well-loved Bagatsing also authored and sponsored several significant legislative measures to make his constituents’ lives easier. These include RA 774, making mandatory counterpart contributions of all employees to the home development mutual fund (PAGIBIG); RA 7835, (CISFA) the comprehensive and integrated shelter and finance act 2; RA 7279, the urban development and housing act (UDHA); RA 7644, rent control law; RA 6965, act revising the form of taxation on oil products from ad valorem to specific taxes; RA 7639, the act further amending the uses of oil price stabilization fund to strengthen the financial viability of NAPOCOR; RA 8544, the merchant marine professional act; RA 10587, the environmental planning act of 2013; RA 9994, the expanded senior citizens’ act; and RA 6846, the Abot Kaya Pabahay fund.
Ultimately, Bagatsing never focused on one aspect of his community alone. Instead, he often looks at the bigger picture to find several solutions to make everyday life more comfortable while also considering the welfare of future generations.
His dedication to the public would later land him several awards and distinctions, such as the Outstanding Congressman of the Year (1994), Media Award for Exemplary Leadership as a Congressman (1989), People’s Choice Award as one of the Ten Outstanding Representatives of the Philippines (1988), and more.
With all the people Bagatsing helped during his term as a congressman, he believes it’s time again for him to assume a position in Manila’s local government to continue what he started and provide improved service to his constituents.
“I’m willing and ready to provide the leadership in government to raise your standard of living, eliminate corruption/kotong, so you can have a bigger take-home pay,” he said.
The mayoral aspirant also plans to replicate his success with KABAKA by putting up more medical equipment, such as 2D echo, ultrasound, x-ray, ECG, etc., in existing City Health Centers to effectively lessen the number of patients in hospitals.
Aside from fortifying the health sector, Bagatsing also promised to support the organization’s development programs for the youth in public schools. He believes public school students fond of sports need training and tournaments to boost their prospects. He will also provide senior citizens additional privileges upon reaching 80, 90, and 100 years old.
Lastly, Bagatsing will tap the corporate social responsibilities (CSR) and like-minded individuals dedicated to serving the public, like barangay officials and non-government organizations, to duplicate the programs of KABAKA, thus allowing more people in Manila access to quality living.
If he wins, Bagatsing also plans to change the governing system of Manila by including the people of the city instead of having them idly waiting for his support and action to address persistent or new concerns.
“The Mayor can’t just take care of all of it. We are in a community, and we have to help each other. You have also to be part of the solution. Everybody will have to cooperate for a vibrant, healthy, productive Manila,” he explained.
Ultimately, the aspiring mayor also hopes to join forces with the public and the private to allow better governance of the city, especially since Manila experiences various problems in each sector that first comes to the public’s attention.
“We must look into the reclamation of Manila as the future source of income for Manila. We must keep our race with other cities. We must not allow our city to be the dumping ground of other cities. We must adhere to the ancient saying ‘Where Manila goes the nation follows,’” he said.
Keeping Manila’s city government updated on current situations is also part of his political agenda. In the last two years, he saw how many Filipinos suffered due to the COVID-19 pandemic yet continued to adhere to laws established before the pandemic. Under his administration, he vows to reinforce Manila’s laws promptly and accordingly to situations that require immediate solutions.
Through compassion, teamwork, and inspiration, Amado believes his administration can entice the Manileños to be part of the solution instead of adding to the problems that the city faces today to create a community involved in the improvement of Manila in becoming a city of progress and inclusively.
