Peña to Makati councilors: Support me for city’s greater good

MAKATI CITY, Philippines - Acting Makati Mayor Romulo “Kid” Peña on Wednesday called on the members of the Makati City Council perceived to be loyal to suspended Mayor Jejomar “Junjun” Binay to support him and “uphold the greater good” by supporting his platform of reforms for the city.

In a statement released by Gibo Delos Reyes, head of the city’s Public Information Office (PIO), Peña expressed confidence the city councilors would support his reform campaign geared towards better governance, enabled by greater transparency and accountability.

“While acting Mayor Peña understands the close affinity of many of the councilors with suspended Mayor Junjun Binay, he is still hoping that their sense of duty to the people of Makati whom they have sworn to serve would eventually prevail,” Delos Reyes said in the statement.

Delos Reyes added that now is the best time for the city councilors to demonstrate to the people of Makati their sincere commitment to the attainment of “inclusive progress”.

"Right now, Makati is at a crucial juncture that opens up the path towards meaningful reforms that will ensure a more equitable distribution of the city’s vast resources, as well as better access to quality services that all of our constituents deserve,” Delos Reyes said.

According to Delos Reyes, some of the priority reform measures that Peña would like to implement with the help of the City Council include a comprehensive audit of Makati's sister city program, a full implementation of an electronic payroll system for all city government employees, a purging of ghost employees, more transparent and participatory bidding process for the city's programs and services starting with the free cakes for the elderly,  the release of the productivity enhancement incentive (PEI) bonus to city hall employees, and the improvement of services and benefits provided to the residents of Makati, such as the free delivery of free medicines to senior citizens and universal health insurance to city hall employees.

"The proposed reforms of acting Mayor Peña are reasonable, timely and viable. We remain optimistic that our city councilors will find it in their hearts to do what is right, what is best for the people of Makati,” Delos Reyes said.