Lito Atienza Gained Additional Percentage On His Lead

Various religious groups, including the influential Iglesia ni Cristo have endorsed the candidacy of comebacking Manila Mayor Lito Atienza.

Apart from INC, Atienza is also being supported by Brother Mike Velarde of El Shaddai, Ustadz Ahmad Barcelom of the Manila Muslim community, Parish Councils of Manila as well as the majority of the city's barangay chairmen, barangay councilors and watchmen and the pro-poor organization People's Movement Against Poverty (PMAP).

It is widely known that the Iglesia ni Cristo has a huge following in the city. With the endorsement of the group, Atienza gains another 5 percent solid votes.

Based on the survey conducted last April 29, Atienza gained a 7 percentage lead against his toughest rival, incumbent Mayor Alfredo Lim. With the INC votes, it can now be considered that Atienza is 12 percent leading against his opponent.

Meanwhile, El Shaddai leader Mike Velarde earlier said Manila needs a pro-life mayor.

“Lito Atienza is not only pro-life, but also pro-good government," he added.

According to Msgr. Mel David, one of Atienza's spiritual advisers, he knows the former Environment secretary too well. “He has a good heart and he is very sincere in wanting to uplift the lives of Manilans. He is pro-God and represents good governance.”

On the other hand, PMAP president Ronald Lumbao said he endorsed the candidacy of Atienza because apart from being a God-fearing person, he believes that the former Environment secretary has a genuine concern to help and improve the plight of the poor.

“His programs answer the needs of the poor community of Manila. He's very much unlike the incumbent mayor who doesn't care about the less fortunate," Lumbao said.

The Muslim community also back Atienza's candidacy, saying he maintains friendship and communication with them despite the difference in belief and religion.

Meanwhile, 650 out of the 897 barangay chairmen, and most of the barangay kagawads and tanods said that they witnessed how the former and present mayor managed the city. They claimed that they were able to prove that Atienza is the one who has a genuine heart to help the people, especially the poor.

Atienza said he is grateful for all the endorsements. He thanked all those who believe in him and his programs and vowed to do his best to improve the quality of life of the Manilans by creating jobs and provide livelihood and other opportunities for all.

Vote Lito Atienza: Why Should We Vote For Him

Former Manila mayor Lito Atienza is seeking another three-year mandate as city mayor of the nation's capital in a bold attempt to continue his commitment in serving his beloved city and the Manilenos. Atienza, one of the most loved leaders of the city vows to continue his flagship programs and priority projects which he was able to successfully launch during his tenure. If all things go his way and if the majority of the Manilenos are wise enough to Vote Lito Atienza, the former mayor has promised to continue pushing for the enhancement and effective delivery of basic social services to the residents of the city. Moreover, Atienza has vowed to continue his fight against poverty and has promised to concentrate all of his efforts in uplifting and developing the lives of the city's impoverished residents.

If Manila residents would Vote Lito Atienza and would grant him another three-year term, Atienza plans to launch his platform dubbed as "Buhayin Nating Muli Ang Maynila" which is centered on sustaining what he has started during his tenure. In light of this, Atienza has prepared numerous programs and priority projects, all of which are dedicated for addressing all the basic social needs of the city and its residents. Atienza will continue his livelihood programs and efficient delivery of basic social services which has been very helpful to many of the city's impoverished residents during his tenure as city mayor.

To achieve his goal of uplifting the lives of the city's poorest residents, Atienza will launch programs that would stimulate the city's once-vibrant economy. Atienza will try to lure in investors into the city by upgrading the city's infrastructure and peace and order situation. In this way, economic activity in the city will be reinvigorated, which can result into job creation for the city's unemployed residents.Livelihood programs and skills trainings will also be launched to cater the city's unemployed and out of school youth to provide them with a decent livelihood and source of income. Moreover, Atienza will also provide employment opportunities for the city's senior citizens who would still want to be employed.

Apart from creating jobs and employment opportunities, Atienza plans to continue addressing the needs of the residents by including almost all social aspects in his platform. Atienza will launch and continue programs and projects that will include a wide array of social areas including programs for housing, healthcare, peace and order, education, sports, culture and arts, nature and environment and welfare of senior citizens. If the Manilenos will Vote Lito Atienza, the benefits and the services they were able to avail during Atienza's term will be continued and sustained for good.

If granted another three-year term as city mayor, Atienza hopes to continue providing affordable housing programs and land acquisition programs both for the homeless impoverished residents and even to the middle class.As part of his efforts in improving the city's healthcare services, Atienza plans to provide more financial resources to the city's public hospitals and health centers.This will enable hospitals to acquire new medical equipment and medicines to be able to provide the Manilenos with quality healthcare and free medicines. Healthcare services will also be delivered to every barangay via the "Sama sa Masa", a major project of Atienza where in doctors conduct free medicines and checkups to every barangay of the city. Atienza also plans to continue providing free education and school supplies to the city's public school students. In addition, as part of his efforts in providing quality and affordable college education, Manila's colleges and universities will also be enhanced. Livelihood programs and skills trainings like vocational courses will also be provided to Manila's unemployed and out of school youth.

Atienza will also continue to provide assistance to Manila's budding athletes and talents through the promotion of sports activities and free training and development programs. The city's peace and order situation will also be improved and perpetrators of crime and big time drug or crime syndicates will be put into justice. As a former environment czar, Atienza will be pushing for the removal of the oil depot in Pandacan, which he deem as a serious environmental and safety threat to the people residing in the area.Furthermore, Atienza is planning to move forward with his beautification projects to put Manila back into the tourists' maps and top destinations in the country.Atienza plans to continue transforming and beautifying the city's old and deteriorating parks and tourist attractions, just like what he did in Manila's bay area or commonly known as the baywalk.

If Manila residents Vote Lito Atienza, the former Manila mayor plans to continue his dedication and commitment in uplifting the lives of the city's residents. He plans to continue improve the local government's delivery of basic services and creating livelihood and employment opportunities which he views as the solutions to the poverty incidence in the city. Atienza has vowed to continue his beautification projects just like what he did in he now infamous baywalk.

-Francis Go

Lito Atienza Is The Most Eligible Man To Vote For Manila Mayor

Former Manila Mayor Lito Atienza without any doubt is the most eligible person to vote for mayor of the nation's capital in this coming election 2010. The former DENR secretary possess years of experience in public service, political will, wisdom, leadership stature and proven and unblemished track record which make him the most eligible person to win the much-coveted seat as the city mayor of this once glamorous and beautiful city.Atienza, the only mayor who won for three consecutive three-year terms, is revered by the whole city for being a true statesman and a father to all Manilenos, and for having served selflessly for the people of the city.One can just take a closer look at the former mayor's innumerable achievements and various completed projects during his leadership to be able to see a clear picture of how this man has completely dedicated himself in uplifting and changing the lives of the Manilenos particularly the impoverished.

We do not have to go the distance to take a glimpse at how Lito Atienza served during his tenure as city mayor.We just have to take note of how Manila was and the living conditions of its residents were three years ago.The Atienza administration is highlighted by the significant changes in the lives and welfare of Manila's poorest residents.Atienza's pro-poor programs and priority projects have turned him into one of the most loved and respected leaders in the city's rich political history.

Lito Atienza is one of the most accomplished city mayors of Manila, and there is no doubt that he is indeed a true statesman and a dedicated public servant. During his stint as city mayor; Atienza has changed and improved the lives of the city's poorest residents. Atienza batted for the efficient extension of basic services as evident in the programs and priority projects that he started during his term as city mayor. He addressed and included all of the social needs of his beloved Manilenos in his programs and priority projects including programs for housing, healthcare, peace and order, education, sports, arts and culture, nature and environment and welfare of senior citizens.

Atienza has built and launched housing projects and land acquisition programs for the city's homeless residents. The former Manila mayor also increased the budget and resources of the city's public hospitals and health centers, as part of his efforts in improving the city's healthcare services for its residents.This move has allowed public hospitals to purchase new medical equipment and medicines for enhanced healthcare services and to be able to provide free medicines to the city's impoverished residents. The city of Manila which has gained its recognition as a haven to the most notorious hold-up artists and pickpockets; has had the best peace and order situation under his leadership. During his leadership, the city recorded its lowest crime levels in years due to Atienza's dedication in ridding the whole city of drug traffickers and syndicates, which he believed as the main roots of all crimes in the city.

Atienza has also provided free education and school supplies to public school students. It was also under his leadership that the city's universities and colleges were enhanced as part of his efforts in providing the city's residents with an affordable and quality college education. The former mayor of Manila during his tenure has also launched the Manila Youth games, which has benefited a lot of the city's budding and promising athletes. In addition, to help the city's talented youth, Atienza provided free training of children who are talented in the fields of music and dance with the help of Manila's top dancers and singers. The city's senior residents have also enjoyed more benefits from the former mayor's program for the senior citizens which included special services, big discounts and other freebies.

Aside from the enhanced delivery of basic services which has changed the lives of the poor, Atienza has also out the city of Manila back in the tourists' map and in the list of top tourists' destinations of the country. Atienza has also batted for the beautification and improvement of the city's old and deteriorating parks and other tourist attractions. One of the most popular projects of the former mayor is the development of the city's bay area commonly known as the "Baywalk", which has enabled city residents, as well as local and foreign tourists to enjoy alfresco dining and listening to fine music while enjoying the world-renowned Manila Bay sunset. It was also during his administration that the city's navigation and travel were improved due to the drastic upgrading made in the city's infrastructure.

No one is more eligible to hold the position as city mayor than former mayor Lito Atienza. The former Manila mayor is the most accomplished and experienced among other bets in this coming election 2010. His achievements and countless completed projects and programs are testimonies to his being a true statesman and a dedicated public servant serving selflessly for the good of many people.

-Joel Dumayog

Atienza to Lim: My Son Is Not A Drug Addict, Yours Was

Candidates Lim and Atienza had a debate last April 22, 2010 at the Polo Club Mayoral Debate spearheaded by the Rotary Club of Manila. Various social issues were tackled by the competing candidates during the debate. The discussion went over the issue of drug trade and use, with Lim noting his continuous campaign in preventing the said activities. However, Lim's opponent, Lito Atienza doubted his authenticity due to the fact that Lim's son was arrested for drug pushing.

It could be recalled that the son of Lim, Manuel Lim was apprehended in 2008 for selling illicit drugs, a nonbailable offense that also carries life imprisonment. Lim, current Manila mayor, did admit that his son was caught by the PDEA, but claimed that he did not lift a finger to help his son. As Lim was placed in the hot seat, he strained the topic by accusing the son of Atienza, Ali Atienza, a national athlete and a gold medalist of the taekwondo Asian games, of being a drug addict himself. The young Atienza who was in the audience called Lim a liar, as it was impossible for a former athlete like him, who competed in international games, to be a drug addict.

Lim, embarrassed with his allegations, pointed the blame to former vice mayor Lacuna, claiming that Lacuna was the one who said the gossip. Ali then went on the stage and lectured Alfredo Lim about his track record as a national athlete.Lim spoke no more about his allegations against Atienza, while the moderators of the debate take over to calm down both parties. Lito Atienza remained calm despite the events and managed to continue the debate.

The debate ended in a detached manner, with Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim trying to redeem himself from the embarrassing accusation he dropped against Ali Atienza. As hard as he might have tried though, Lim have already left an impression toward the thinking crowd of professional Rotarians. With his mediocre means of campaigning, Lim usually pleases the city's usual crowd but he must have considered that what he was facing during that time were professional individuals who can be critical about his actions. It is just disheartening to see how this form of unintelligent debate can take place. As the upcoming leaders of the city, the public expects more from these candidates than the senseless words coming from their mouths.

After the incident, Ali Atienza noted in front of the media that he would be pressing charges against the libelous allegations of Lim. The son of Lito Atienza said that he was deeply hurt about the allegations dropped by Lim. The young Atienza also pointed out that it was really impossible for an athlete to compete if he has been found using illicit drugs, making Lim's accusations a look more like fabricated story. Even after the election, Atienza is decided to file charges against Lim to protect his reputation.

With election 2010 nearing, it is normal to hear candidates speaking ill against their competitors. These ill comments is one way for the candidates to pull down their opponents. However, those who wish to run for office must also realize that speaking ill against opponents is not the right means to win the votes of the public. This is because the public has already given up with the ongoing political drama, and prefer leaders who knows how to walk the talk over those who talks and talks.

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim is caught under public scrutiny after he accused the son of Lito Atienza for being a drug addict. The incident took place during the Mayoralty Debate arranged by the Rotary Club of Manila last April 22 2010. The allegation dropped by Lim angered Ali Atienza, and told the media after the debate that he is ready to press charges against the Mayor even after election 2010 is over. This event could seriously affect Lim's candidacy.

-Joel Dumayog