The year 2024 witnessed significant strides for the City of Manila under the leadership of Mayor Honey Lacuna, marked by a focus on enhancing public services, improving infrastructure, and strengthening social programs.

A testament to the city’s commitment to good governance, Manila once again received the prestigious Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) award as it also solidified its position as a leading city in the Philippines by securing a high ranking in the 2024 Cities and Municipalities Competitive Index.

While 2024 witnessed significant progress, the city of Manila continues to face challenges such as poverty, traffic congestion, and environmental issues and looking ahead, the city government is committed to building upon its successes and addressing the remaining challenges.

And this year, Manila will once again become the center of a storm with the upcoming Traslacion of the Black Nazarene.

This massive Catholic pilgrimage, expected to draw millions of devotees, presents a significant challenge for Manila City officials, the Church, and various government agencies who must collaborate to ensure the safety of all participants.

This will be followed by another major celebration — the Feast of the Santo Niño de Tondo, held in one of the city’s most densely populated areas.

After these two major events, the three-month “election fever” will begin and candidates for local positions will start their campaigns, a period often marked by divisions within communities.

Friendships and neighborly relations may be strained, and the expected influx of campaign funds from candidates is a practice that needs to be addressed.

During the week-long Christmas break, from 25 to 31 December, Manila experienced a significant decrease in traffic as many residents traveled to their hometowns in the provinces to celebrate the holidays.

The first day of the new year will likely see a surge of visitors to popular destinations such as the Manila Zoo, Manila Ocean Park, Rizal Park, Kartilya ng Katipunan, the newly erected Chinese-owned malls in Binondo-Divisoria, and renowned Chinese restaurants frequented by the middle class.