More unsolicited advice for Mayor Domagoso
Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso is doing a good job managing the capital city of the Philippines, notwithstanding the serious problems posed by the COVID-19 health menace. He is a fresh breath in the old politics that engulfed Manila for decades.
Because Mayor Domagoso seems to appreciate the city’s cultural heritage, it is unlikely that he will order the demolition of historical sites in the city, like what ex-Manila Mayor Joselito Atienza did to the now gone Jai Alai Building along Taft Avenue. That building was a showcase of Art Deco architecture.
Last June, the Manila city government announced it will buy 110,000 educational tablet devices equipped with SIM cards, and 11,000 laptop computers with pocket WiFi devices, for the use of teachers and their pupils in the coming online classes in the city’s public schools. Each SIM card will have a 10
GB bandwidth on a monthly basis, and a 2 GB allocation for access to YouTube. All of that equipment will cost taxpayers P994 million.
In an essay published in this column last 19 July, unsolicited advice was given to Mayor Domagoso to come up with measures to protect the devices against possible misuse, damage, loss and theft. It would be a pity if such a laudable educational project is derailed by a lack of providence. Hopefully, the mayor has done something about that.
Because Domagoso is doing well in running Manila, analysts opine that his reelection in 2022 will be easy. Unfortunately, his political rivals are not happy about that prospect, and it not unlikely that they are looking for a chance to discredit him.
This is where another bit of unsolicited advice must be given to the mayor.
Unknown to many, the Manila South
Cemetery located in Makati is under the jurisdiction of the City Government of Manila.
Being a government-owned cemetery maintained by public funds, the management of the Manila South Cemetery is, under the Constitution, not allowed to give special treatment to, or to discriminate against, deceased individuals on the basis of religion.
Last month, Mayor Domagoso announced that a
Muslim cemetery will be put up inside the Manila South Cemetery. It will have an area of 2,400 square meters. There will be a cultural hall, too.
City Hall’s budget for this undertaking is P49.3 million.
Section 28(2), Article VI of the Constitution prohibits the direct or indirect expenditure of public funds for the use, benefit or support of any religious denomination. Public interest advocates believe that the creation of the special cemetery as planned by Mayor Domagoso may not be in accord with Section 28(2) cited above, considering that public funds will be spent for the upkeep of the government-owned cemetery.
Any violation of the constitutional ban may lead to the filing of administrative or criminal raps against public officials committing the violation or allowing the same.
Moreover, the planned cultural hall, even a non-denominational one, may end up being used for disruptive activities which can, in turn, upset the families of the dearly departed interred in their solemn resting places.
This essay is not intended to discriminate against or offend our Muslim brothers. Everyone is equal in the eyes of the Creator.
The intention of this essay is to suggest to Mayor Domagoso that he ought to study the constitutional and legal implications of all his projects, and not just this one concerning the Manila South Cemetery. That way, his political rivals, who are already eyeing the May 2022 local elections this early, will have no legal issue to use against his administration.
“He
ought to study the constitutional and legal implications of all his projects, and not just this one concerning the Manila South Cemetery.
“Because Domagoso is doing well in running Manila, analysts opine that his reelection in 2022 will be easy.