Estrada Manila Mayor Joseph ‘Erap’ Estrada on Friday honored the city’s top business and realty taxpayers that helped laid out numerous projects that benefit the majority of Manileños, during the awarding ceremony at the Manila Hotel as part of the 447th Araw Ng Maynila celebration.

Mayor Estrada awarded at least 20 companies and businesses in the city that “sincerely and continuously” paid their taxes.

The ten outstanding business taxpayers are Manila Electric Company, International Containers Terminal Services Inc., SM Prime Holdings Inc., Unilever Philippines Inc., Mercury Drug Corporation; Asian Terminals Inc., Maynilad Services Inc., Philippine Star Daily Inc., Puregold Price Club Inc., and Golden Arches Development Corporation.

Also recognized for their contribution for paying real property on time were Asian Terminals Inc., Manila North Harbour Port Inc., Unilever Philippines, SM Prime Holdings Inc., Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, International Containers Terminal Servcies Inc., Home Guaranty Corp., Manila Electric Co., Robinsons Land Corporation and Megaworld Corporation.

All the top taxpayers received a plaque of appreciation and trophies.

Estrada also bestowed the Gat. Andres Bonifacio Award to Jose Trinidad Pardo, a known economist who held numerous positions in government and public services. Pardo was also a recipient of The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) Award.

Pardo received numerous awards in the past such as the Outstanding Filipino (TOFIL) Award, the President Manuel Roxas Memorial, and Man of the Year Award 2000.

In 1998, Pardo served as secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and then the Department of Finance (DoF) in 2000, during the term of Estrada as president of the country.

The mayor also presented the Youth Role Model Award to Karen Antonette A. Papilleras, Sports/Youth Development Award to Arturo “Coach Turo” Valenzona, Women/ Social Relief Award to Atty. Teresita Cruz Sison, and Corporate/ Community Service Award to Dr. Francis Chua.

In recognizing the contributions of all the awardees, Mayor Estrada thanked them for helping the city rise from the ashes by paying the multi-billion debts he inherited from the past administration.

“With your support, Manila is truly regaining its historic title as the Pearl of the Orient,” Estrada said.

The former president and now Manila Mayor also boasted the city’s financial stability and actively implemented infrastructure projects that would benefit millions of Manilenos in the future.

“We have cemented roads, cleaned esteros, renovated hospitals and health centers and purchased state of the art medical equipment and built new school buildings,” Estrada said.

He vowed that he would make Manila conducive for business ventures, leisure sites, and tourist-friendly destinations.

Estrada also assured that the money from the taxes paid by the businesses and realtors would be used to benefit Manilenos through the creation of more jobs, and more business opportunities.