Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Wednesday pledged to restore the unpaid monthly allowances for all 4,000 members of the Manila Police District (MPD) and issued a stern warning to criminals and reckless drivers.
Speaking at his first MPD Command Conference at the United Nations headquarters, Domagoso expressed surprise that the previous administration had halted the P2,500 monthly allowance, which he noted was a city ordinance intended to alleviate the financial burdens of officers assigned to maintain security and order in the city.
He clarified that the allowance is a mandatory city obligation to Philippine National Police members assigned in Manila and estimated that officers have not received their allowance for seven months. His announcement was met with loud applause from the police battalion.
Domagoso’s marching order to the police is clear: Restore peace and order and apprehend criminals operating within the city.
“My only instruction to our police is to make the city peaceful and pursue criminals,” Domagoso said. “And I call on victims of hold-up and snatching on Road 10 to go to the police station and file a complaint, and we will surely go after them wherever they hide.”
He also issued a strong warning to drug pushers and those involved in illegal activities, urging them to leave the city or face severe consequences.
“To the ‘tolongges’ out there, as I promised during the campaign, stop or leave the city, and I assure you, you will lose sleep hiding from us,” said Domagoso.
Also on Wednesday, Domagoso lashed out at “kamote” drivers and riders who disregard pedestrian lanes, following a road accident at the corner of Legarda and San Rafael Streets.
“Imagine — what if your child or your spouse was crossing the pedestrian lane right now and there was a ‘kamote’ driver like you? What if your family gets into an accident?” the mayor said in a strongly-worded statement. “If you yourself violate traffic laws, you might even be the cause of an accident.”
Domagoso said he witnessed the aftermath of the accident during his early morning rounds, describing it as a case where one motorist failed to respect the pedestrian lane and was subsequently hit by another motorist.
The Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office promptly responded to the scene.
“I noticed, from the fire incident in Sampaloc to City Hall, many motorists do not follow pedestrian lanes,” the mayor observed. “This is not just a matter of traffic, but of respect and safety.”
“Lessons learned? Respect the pedestrian lane,” Domagoso stressed. “Let’s start with discipline. Let’s start with ourselves. Make respecting the law a habit. This is for the safety of your family — and others.”
He directed both the MPD and the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau to strictly enforce pedestrian lane rules and traffic regulations across the city, especially in accident-prone intersections.
The mayor indicated that road safety regulations and road courtesy would be discussed in two high-level meetings Wednesday: a 10 a.m. conference with the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC), and the 2 p.m. command conference with the MPD.
Separately, Domagoso instructed city officials to formally request that Meta (Facebook) Philippines immediately return control of the official Facebook page for the Manila Public Information Office, which reportedly remains under the control of former city employees.