The Mayor and the Songwriter

Multi-awarded singer, songwriter, and actor-comedian Ogie Alcasid graced the oath-taking ceremonies of Mayor Jaime R. Fresnedi at Muntinlupa City Hall last Monday, July, 2013.

Alcasid serenaded the dignitaries and the large crowd gathered at the City Hall quadrangle with his signature hit Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang? (Why Only Now?) and inspired everyone to action with his new song Ang Galing ng Pinoy (Filipinos are Great).

Fresnedi and the City Government, as well as the people of Muntinlupa, are faced with the challenge of overhauling an outstanding debt of more than a billion pesos incurred by the past administration. This is on top of finding funds to provide basic services to all citizens.

Alcasid, in a bid to lighten the mood, gave this quotable quote upon seeing how he measured to the diminutive Mayor Fresnedi: "Sir, pareho pala tayong cute (We are both cute)." -MCPIO

Bagong umaga, bagong pag-asa para sa Muntinlupa; Fresnedi, muling pangungunahan ang Lungsod

(UPDATE 2) MUNTINLUPA CITY - Bagong pag-asa ang sumalubong sa mga Muntinlupeño sa pagsisimula ng panunungkulan ni Mayor-elect Atty. Jaime R. Fresnedi ngayong ika-1 ng Hulyo, 2013, kung saan kanyang sisikapin na maibalik ang Lungsod sa tinaguriang “daang matuwid.”

Si Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas ang panauhing pandangal at nanguna sa panunumpa ni Fresnedi sa City Hall Quadrangle sa Barangay Putatan.

“Ating tatahakin ang daang matuwid ng tapat at maaasahang pamumuno dahil ito ang nararapat para sa mga Muntinlupeño,” ani Fresnedi. “Ibibigay natin sa ating mga kababayan ang serbisyong walang kulay, nasa lugar, at walang bahid ng anumang anomalya o iregularidad.”

Naghandog naman ng awit ang premyadong mang-aawit at kompositor na si Ogie Alcasid upang palakasin ang loob ng mga mamamayan at maghatid ng saya sa pagdiriwang.

Hindi madali ang mga hamon ng bagong administrasyon dahil kinakaharap ngayon ni Fresnedi at ng buong Lungsod ang mahigit isang bilyong pisong utang dulot ng umano’y mga iregularidad sa ilalim ng dating pamunuan.

Gayunpaman, hindi nawawalan si Fresnedi ng pag-asa na magtatagumpay ang mga mamamayan ng Muntinlupa. “Hindi maganda ang sitwasyon pero hindi ito imposible,” aniya.

“Kailangan nating ibalik ang tiwala sa ating serbisyo-publiko at ang kumpyansa ng ating mga mamumuhunan kasama ang isang kultura ng paniniwala sa kakayahan ng mga Muntinlupeño na nagsasabing, ‘Kaya natin ‘to!’”

Mula 1998 hanggang 2007 sa pamumuno ni Fresnedi, tinamo ng Muntinlupa ng tatlong beses ang pagkakilala ng business community bilang Most Business-Friendly City sa buong bansa.

Gamit ang edukasyon bilang pangunahing programa sa ilalim ng kanyang Eight-Point Program of Governance, napagtapos ng Fresnedi administration ang libu-libong kabataan at mamamayan sa kanilang pag-aaral, kung saan marami sa kanila ngayon ang nasa iba’t-ibang industriya gaya ng media, private sector, at mga government institutions.

New hope for Muntinlupeños as Fresnedi takes office

(UPDATE 3) MUNTINLUPA CITY - Mayor-elect Atty. Jaime R. Fresnedi assumed office July 1, 2013, with the pledge to bring the City back onto the path known as “daang matuwid” or the straight road of good governance.

No less than Interior and Local Government secretary Mar Roxas led the oath-taking rites at the Muntinlupa City Hall in Barangay Putatan.

“We will take on the straight and narrow road of good, principled governance because the people deserve nothing but the best brand of public service,” Fresnedi said. “It is our pledge to give our people excellent services that are transparent beyond reproach.”

The challenges of the new administration are far from easy, though, as Fresnedi inherits an outstanding billion-peso loan incurred by the City due to apparent mismanagement by the past regime as well as unreliable services and limited development.

“We recognize that the situation is challenging, but it is not hopeless,” Fresnedi said. “We need to restore public trust and investor confidence in the local government, as well as bring back the culture of trust in Muntinlupeños, a culture that says together, ‘yes, we can!’”

Multi-awarded singer and songwriter Ogie Alcasid graced the ceremonies by performing several songs meant to inspire the new mayor and the people of Muntinlupa.

From 1998 to 2007 under Fresnedi’s leadership, Muntinlupa was recognized as a three-time Most Business-Friendly City in the country by the business sector.

With education as the backbone of an Eight-Point Program of Governance, the City reached unprecedented heights and empowered citizens, most of whom benefited from the education-centered programs and have gone on to positions of influence in Philippine society.