MMDA chairman laid to rest

MANILA, Philippines — The late Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Danilo Lim was given military honors as he was laid to rest yesterday.

The green urn containing the ashes of Lim, a retired brigadier general in the Philippine Army who later on challenged the presidencies of the late Corazon Aquino and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo through mutinies, was buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City at noon.

A military contingent marched along with Lim’s widow and Rebolusyonaryong Alyansang Makabansa party-list Rep. Aloysia Tiongson-Lim and his daughter Aika as his urn was brought to his final resting place.

Soldiers held a Philippine flag on top of his tomb as they fired their 21-gun salute.

At a memorial service for him at The Heritage Park on Friday night, government officials honored Lim as a “brave soldier, a distinguished public servant and a dear friend to many of us,” as described by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.

“He was soft-spoken yet his life spoke so loudly of his passion, his ideals, and most importantly his principles,” he said in his eulogy.

MMDA general manager Jojo Garcia and Metro Manila Council chairman Edwin Olivarez, also Parañaque City mayor, praised him for being the MMC’s binding force, especially when Metro Manila started battling the COVID-19 pandemic last year.

Amid hours of arguments during MMC meetings, Garcia said, the MMC would agree on a decision because of Lim’s presence. “We cannot do it if not for the leadership and integrity of Chairman Lim,” he said.

Olivarez said he admired Lim’s sincerity and passion to unite the MMC, composed of 17 Metro Manila mayors, in fighting the pandemic.

Aloysia and Aika thanked government agencies and the public who condoled with them.

In her message, Aika said her father was supposed to end his isolation after testing positive for COVID-19 on Dec. 29.

“We were looking forward to his recovery and early discharge, he was even making calls and conducting virtual meetings,” she shared.

Lim died of heart attack on Jan. 6.

He served as deputy commissioner of the Bureau of Customs during the term of former president Benigno Aquino III until his resignation and was appointed MMDA chairman in 2017.