Munti Lake Management Office is first in NCR – Sec. Neri Acosta

LLDA General Manager Neri Acosta (left) and Mayor Jaime R. Fresnedi (right) plant bamboo at a creek side in the NBP Reservation in Muntinlupa City during a recent tree-planting activity. Sec. Acosta commended Fresnedi and the City Government for its efforts in maintaining the ecological balance in Muntinlupa City particularly Laguna de Bay. Photo by Allen Taclas (PIO)

The General Manager of the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) has commended Muntinlupa City for being the first local government unit in the National Capital Region to have an agency that deals directly with the welfare of Laguna de Bay.

Presidential Adviser for Environmental Protection and LLDA General Manager Sec. J.R. Nereus “Neri” O. Acosta praised the City in its efforts in restoring Laguna de Bay, among them, establishing the Lake Management Office (LMO), which he noted to be the first in NCR.

Sec. Acosta delivered these remarks at a tree-planting activity held at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) Reservation in Muntinlupa City last September 13, where he also complimented Mayor Jaime R. Fresnedi for his dedication and commitment to take care of the environment.

“We are definitely honored by these recognitions,” Fresnedi said in response. “Being the first to have our own LMO gives us the opportunity to show other LGUs around the lake how the challenge of restoring Laguna de Bay should be done.”

The activity involved the planting of bamboo trees along waterways to prevent erosion and stop the heavy siltation currently plaguing Laguna de Bay. Siltation has significantly reduced the lake’s depth, causing it to overflow more often especially during very heavy rains.

Acosta also emphasized that Laguna de Bay is a catch basin for rainfall coming from the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal, so it is essential that LGUs around the lake work with the LLDA to alleviate flooding in the future, especially with the threat of heavy rainfall such as the recent Habagat becoming very real and occurring almost regularly.

With Muntinlupa having the longest shoreline among LGUs in NCR, Acosta challenged Muntinlupeños to work hard to restore Laguna de Bay and to preserve the City’s ecosystem for future generations. “Plant more of these bamboo trees to not only save Muntinlupa from flooding, but also to leave a wonderful legacy for your children,” Acosta said.

Aside from the LMO, Muntinlupa also has several agencies dedicated to maintaining the environment, among them the Environment Sanitation Center (ESC) and Environment Protection and Natural Resources Office (EPNRO). These are part of the environmental component included in Fresnedi’s Eight-Point Agenda for the City.

DFA South Office opens in Muntinlupa

Muntinlupeños now have further reason to be thankful as getting a passport to travel or work abroad is now easier, with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) setting up shop literally at the City’s doorstep.

Secretary Albert del Rosario and Muntinlupa City Mayor Jaime R. Fresnedi recently presided over the opening of the DFA-National Capital Region (NCR) South Office located at the posh Alabang Town Center in the City’s commercial and business district.

“We are truly thankful that the DFA decided to set up their operations here in our City,” Fresnedi said. “We are very grateful as we have been requesting this for some time, to meet the need of our constituents.”

The DFA-NCR South Office offers passport processing and renewal services, and provides important information to queries regarding DFA services. It is expected to make passport services more accessible to Muntinlupeños as well as citizens from nearby cities and municipalities as well.

During Fresnedi’s first term, in 2004, the City Government through its Public Employment Services Office (PESO) pioneered the Mobile Passport Services, where specialists from the DFA visited the City on a quarterly basis to process a certain number of passports that could be released within the day.

Due to increasing demand from Muntinlupeños and those coming from Southern Luzon, and with a view of reducing congestion at the DFA Main Office in Pasay City, Fresnedi asked the DFA to provide for a permanent office in Muntinlupa.

Fresnedi’s request and dream have finally come true after nine years.

“This is especially helpful to us, as our PESO now offers openings from companies providing opportunities for work abroad,” Fresnedi added. “With the arrival of the DFA in our City, we are now a step closer to making our global footprint even stronger, as we encourage our citizens to avail of the services of the DFA.”

Ospital ng Muntinlupa in critical condition

The City’s primary tertiary public hospital is in serious trouble—and is in need of intensive care.

A comprehensive inventory of the Ospital ng Muntinlupa (OsMun) has revealed massive deficiencies, questionable practices, and facilities in various states of neglect and disrepair as a result of apparent mismanagement in the last six years.

“It is truly unfortunate that our very own hospital, meant to help Muntinlupeños who need health care, is now in a very serious condition,” Mayor Jaime R. Fresnedi said. “The state of OsMun is truly unbelievable, but we need to work hard and fast to make sure that our hospital is able to meet the needs of our citizens.”

Based on a report from OsMun submitted to the mayor, the hospital has as much as Php9,437,376.26 of unaccounted income and Php1,302,059.45 worth of ghost deliveries. This is on top of contracts with outside suppliers that are either unfavorable to OsMun or not supported by contracts at all.

The inventory also revealed that most major services such as Radiology, Laboratory, Pulmonary Units, Dialysis, Dietary, and Security are outsourced; moreover, the hospital Pharmacy and Medical Supplies are significantly lacking, leading to a dependence on outside suppliers.

The problem with these outsourced services is that almost all of these are not properly supervised and accounting is spotty. The report found out that the hospital’s Financial Report does not tally with reports from OsMun’s different units.

Other questionable practices include collections by the hospital Cashier for services at the Hearing Unit that use an outside supplier’s receipt instead of OsMun’s, with 80% of the fees collected going directly to the supplier. The hospital’s radiology consultant, as well as security guards, receives payment even if not regularly available and rendering only a few services.

And then there are the facilities, all in various states of disrepair and neglect. Hospital beds, surgical instruments, and equipment such as endoscopy and x-ray machines all need repair, while vital equipment mandated by the Department of Health such as cardiac monitors, defibrillators, laryngoscopes, ambubags, and emergency carts are nowhere to be found.

Donations such as a computer set and telefax from concerned individuals and groups are nowhere to be found, while more than 7,000 pieces of donated or purchased equipment were left unused in the hospital’s stockrooms and allowed to expire.

An ominous sign in the report is that out of OsMun’s 2013 operating budget of Php224,000,000.00, only Php84,345,807.56 remain, which is not enough to cover salaries, utilities, and payments to suppliers.

Fresnedi assured Muntinlupeños that he will not allow OsMun to die out. “We are working to restore services offered by OsMun, such as subsidies to indigent patients, and to ensure quality health care for all Muntinlupeños.”

During Fresnedi’s first term, OsMun offered subsidies of up to 75% to Muntinlupa residents and was ably supported by partnerships with the private sector, ensuring a steady flow of quality equipment and supplies. It also had competitive rates, allowing OsMun to have leading practitioners to ensure proper health care for citizens.

Fresnedi to make life easier for Munti PWDs

Persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Muntinlupa now have a reason to hope as Muntinlupa City Mayor Jaime R. Fresnedi has finally put the spotlight on this often-marginalized sector of society.

Fresnedi is leading efforts for the creation of the first Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) in Muntinlupa in hopes of taking better care of PWDs through programs, improvements, and a cultural paradigm shift aimed at uplifting their welfare.

“It’s unfortunate that the welfare of PWDs in Muntinlupa has been neglected for quite some time,” Fresnedi said. “We are now taking extra effort to make the City more accommodating towards persons with special needs because they are also Muntinlupeños.”

Among the initiatives included with the creation of the PDAO are surveying the total PWD population in Muntinlupa and creating a database of their specific needs and conditions. The City’s Social Services Department estimates 2,000 PWDs based in Muntinlupa but admits this still needs to be verified.

The initiative also involves the creation of livelihood and employment opportunities for PWDs. Fresnedi has directed the City’s Public Employment Services Office (PESO) to look into this matter and coordinate with businesses in Muntinlupa to give PWDs the jobs they need.

Fresnedi is first to point out that Muntinlupa has lagged in adhering to the provisions of Republic Act No. 10070, also known as the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, in terms of disabled-friendly structures such as access ramps in all buildings and venues.

Fresnedi is also calling for increased awareness to the plight of PWDs as well as sensitivity to their condition. “We need to educate our citizens on how to treat PWDs with the respect that they deserve,” he added.

In line with this, an education program aiming to strengthen PWDs as they interact with society as well as teaching the proper cultural attitudes of the general population is to be implemented in the City.

Fresnedi is known in Muntinlupa for his disabled-friendly policies. During his first nine years as Mayor, Fresnedi personally delivered wheelchairs to deserving recipients through his Gulong ng Buhay (Wheels of Life) program.

Fresnedi leading drive to normalize Munti gov’t services

Muntinlupeños are starting to get used to the “new normal” as Muntinlupa City Mayor Jaime R. Fresnedi strives to return government services to their efficient levels in spite of a dire lack of funds.

Fresnedi conducted a spot inspection throughout the City over the weekend to see for himself how the local government’s line agencies are doing their work and directed them to step up their efforts.

“The challenge for us, obviously, is how to make the most with our limited budget,” Fresnedi said. “But doing things efficiently and to the best of one’s abilities can offset our financial limitations; we can also accomplish more if we help out each other,” he added.

Fresnedi directed the Environment Sanitation Center to improve garbage collection and in maintaining cleanliness in the City by conducting more frequent collection and sweeping activities.

He also oversaw the distribution of financial assistance to more than 100 families in barangay Cupang affected by a court order directing them to vacate the property. The residents voluntarily dismantled their structures in compliance with the order and were given P5,000 financial assistance by the City Government to help them start anew.

Fresnedi likewise monitored developments concerning the City’s ability to cope with flooding and heavy rains with the onset of the rainy season. He then directed the City’s rescue and social services to maintain constant readiness, as well as the City’s traffic bureau to ensure accessibility on all roads during calamities.