Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso said the city ended 2025 on stronger ground after stabilizing city finances, restoring frontline services, and rebuilding investor confidence in the first six months of his administration.
In a Facebook Live year-end report aired from Manila City Hall recently, Domagoso said the city confronted major challenges inherited mid-year, including garbage backlogs, unpaid obligations, and weakened public trust.
The mayor said waste collection was normalized within days of his return to office, followed by sustained citywide cleanup and drainage declogging efforts to improve cleanliness and reduce flood risks.
“In less than 72 hours, we put things in the right order.”
“In less than 72 hours, we put things in the right order at naibalik natin sa normal ang koleksyon ng basura, at na-normalize na natin ang paghakot, paglilinis, pagsasaayos, at pagiging maaliwalas ng ating lumang lungsod,” he said.
Domagoso also reported that from July to December, the city generated ₱10.8 billion in local revenues, ₱2.4 billion in national tax allotments, and additional inflows while enforcing strict fiscal discipline.
He said a General Tax Amnesty program collected ₱439 million, benefited more than 24,000 taxpayers, and helped raise collection efficiency in the second half of the year.
“Minabuti ko pa ring unawain kayo na mga nagbabayad ng buwis, kaya pinakiusapan ko ang Konseho ng Maynila to pass an ordinance for the declaration of General Tax Amnesty, inuna muna natin ang tao bago ang pamahalaan,” Domagoso said.
He said improved collections allowed the city to settle ₱4.8 billion in prior-year obligations, pay utilities and bank loans on time, and stabilize Manila’s overall financial position.
“Sumatotal sa loob lamang po ng limang buwan, nabawasan natin ’yung lumang obligasyong iniwan sa atin or what you call Prior Years Obligation na umabot ng ₱4.8 billion na po ang nabayaran natin,” Domagoso added.
He added that education and social protection programs were sustained despite fiscal constraints, with significant funds released to students and vulnerable sectors.
“Sa loob lamang ng anim na buwan, umabot po sa mahigit ₱167 million ang na-release natin para sa edukasyon at higit ₱629 million naman para sa ating mga senior citizen,” Domagoso said.
He also cited renewed investor confidence, pointing to sharp increases in business applications, permits issued, jobs generated, and investments during the latter half of 2025.
Domagoso said restored frontline services included expanded healthcare, social protection, education support, and assistance programs for seniors, students, workers, and uniformed personnel.
“Bumalik ang tiwala ng mga namumuhunan, nag-iistabilize na ’yung city finances, at unti-unti ’yung basic services delivered tangible improvements to everyday life,” he said.
Domagoso also highlighted road clearing operations, drainage rehabilitation, lighting projects, and public safety measures aimed at improving everyday conditions across the city.
“Under Executive Order No. 3, maglinis tayo, maglinis tayo, maglinis tayo, at maglinis tayo, at ‘wag tayong titigil upang maibsan ang pagbaha at maibalik ang kaayusan sa ating mga kalsada,” he stressed.
Likewise, Domagoso said the city’s aggressive road clearing and flood mitigation drive cleared hundreds of roads and removed obstructions that worsened flooding during ordinary rainfall.
“650 roads ang na-clear sa buong Maynila, limampu’t siyam na libong metro ng drainage ang na-declog, at walong daan dalawampu’t dalawang kalye ang ating tinugunan,” he said.
Domagoso noted the city also strengthened public safety through lighting projects implemented at no cost to the local government.
“Sa tulong ng San Miguel, 1,162 ang nailawan sa buong Skyway na sakop ng Maynila, halos 4.1 kilometro, at wala po tayong ginastos dito,” he explained.
Domagoso said frontline health services were expanded with the opening of Baseco Hospital as the city’s seventh public hospital, the launch of Manila’s first cardiac catheterization laboratory, and the rehabilitation of emergency rooms, including Ospital ng Sampaloc.
He added that high-cost procedures and diagnostics—such as angiograms, future angioplasty, CT scans, MRI, mammograms, and other essential tests—are now provided free of charge in city-run hospitals to ensure access to care regardless of patients’ ability to pay.
“Ang commitment ko sa inyo, mabuhay lang kayo, kahit gumastos ako ng milyon-milyon.”
“Ang commitment ko sa inyo, mabuhay lang kayo, kahit gumastos ako ng milyon-milyon, mabuhay lang kayo, you will not pay anything,” he said.
Concluding his report, Domagoso said Manila’s recovery in 2025 marked a transition from crisis to performance.
“Modesty aside, Manila finished strong in 2025, mula ICU patungong recovery room, dahil may gobyerno na po muli ang Lungsod ng Maynila,” he concluded.
