Less than two months into office, 12 foreign ambassadors and diplomats from around the world have met Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Domagoso, who they said has buckled down to work “to save the capital from urban decay following years of wanton neglect.”
The mayor’s chief of staff, Cesar Chavez, said Tuesday the ambassadors who have met Domagoso are United States’ Sung Kim, United Kingdom’s Daniel Pruce, Japan’s Koji Haneda, Panama’s Rolando Alvarado, Saudi Arabia’s Dr. Abdullah Al-Bussairy, Israel’s Rafael Harpaz, Singapore’s Gerard Ho, Russia’s Igor Khovaev, European Union’s Franz Jessen, New Zealand’s David Strachan, Australia’s Ambassador Steven Robinson, and Georgia’s Irakli Asashvili.
In all those meetings, Domagoso “got recognition and praise for infusing significant reforms in the country’s capital city,” Chavez noted.
Domagoso was particularly acknowledged for bringing distinctive changes to Manila under his battlecry “Bagong Maynila” in a matter of days, which his predecessors failed to do for years, he added.
But the 44-year-old mayor stressed there’s nothing unusual in what he did, what he’s doing, and what he plans to do for the city.
“This is naturally what a mayor should do,” said Domagoso, who has served as councilor and vice mayor of the city for a combined 18 years.
The former actor and Social Welfare undersecretary, who was born and grew up in the slums of Tondo”•then a symbol of poverty in the country”•said only a true “Batang Maynila” will save Manila.
“I’m happy the members of the diplomatic corps and the consular offices keep coming back or visiting Manila. We’re honored, of course. it is a good sign that they’re hopeful, hopeful about the city government, where the city’s going in the next,” Domagoso said.
“It’s not about our pride, it’s the pride of the city of Manila and the people of Manila. It’s not for me. At least, they have a good outlook of Manila,” he added.
Called a “ total rockstar” by US Ambassador Sung Kim, who lauded his new dynamism and energies to his position, Domagoso said he is just starting, thus he still cannot consider himself successful in his campaign to stop Manila’s further deterioration.
“We are just few weeks into office, and there are still many things to do,” said Domagoso, who was also commended for serving as an inspiration to other local government officials.
Even President Rodrigo Duterte took notice of Domagoso’s accomplishments after he assumed the mayoralty post July 1, Chavez noted.
While elated with the mounting support and recognition from across the nation and the world, Domagoso conceded that tough challenges are ahead of him, but he is fully prepared to combat them.
The mayor said he was greatly honored and grateful that the members of diplomatic corps are showing their intentions in helping Manila.
He related that the United States and Singapore have offered help to turn Manila into a “Smart City,” and US embassy officials have offered to help the city’s flood monitoring and prevention program.
On the other hand, the Singaporean ambassador offered to fund a “study trip” where the Manila mayor could learn more about first-world policies and practices.
“We have areas of expertise in traffic management, sewages, but you have to see what works for you because you cannot blindly apply,” Ambassador Ho told Domagoso.
UK’s Pruce, Domagoso said, promised their technical specialty on urban planning and creative parks in a highly urbanized setting. He said this “done deal” is a huge thing for Manila because it will be very expensive to embark on the project.
He also said Japan’s Haneda vowed to help in tourism by promoting the historical trail of Intramuros, where the Japanese have footprint, as he told the mayor this is a magnet for Japanese tourists.
Panama’s Alvarado wants to engage the Manila city government in cultural exchanges, while the Saudi and Israeli ambassadors came to see Domagoso to congratulate him for turning Manila into “a very beautiful city,” and serving as a inspiration.
“I was inspired by you,” said Harpaz of Israel, as he commended Domagoso for his achievements in just a few days, which he said is something that cannot be achieved even by officials in other countries.
Asashvili shared with the Manila mayor 15 years of successful reforms in his country Georgia that started with curbing corruption to zero level, firing old policemen, and increasing salaries.
The ambassadors of Russia, the European Union and New Zealand invited the mayor to visit their countries and study some work that can be adopted in Manila.
A thankful Domagoso gave each of the envoys the symbolic key to the city of Manila.