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.

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.

Muntinlupa opens employment opportunities to Japan

The return of Mayor Jaime R. Fresnedi has signaled the reopening of friendly relations between Muntinlupa City and Japan, with employment opportunities for Muntinlupeños who are seeking work abroad.

“We are especially grateful to our Japanese friends who are once again renewing their trust and faith in the people of Muntinlupa,” Fresnedi said. “We hope that this will help our fellow Muntinlupeños who need jobs to support their families and achieve their dreams.”

The City Government is coordinating with the Phil. Assist Life Manpower Corporation through the Public Information Office (PIO) as the lead agency, the Public Employment Services Office (PESO) and the Muntinlupa City Technical Institute (MCTI) in sending skilled manpower and agriculture specialists to six-month to three-year contracts in Japan.

General requirements include the applicant to be a Filipino citizen, have no tattoo, no late registration NSO Birth Certificate, and no operation in the body. Those who have experience working abroad with the related skills have an advantage, but applicants must have been in the Philippines for at least two years.

Agriculture specialists must be between 20-30 years old, at least four years graduate or two years undergraduate with a BS in Agriculture, majoring in Crop Science, Animal Science, Horticulture, Agronomy, or at least high school graduate with experience in farming.

Opportunities for skilled work include welding, framing construction work, plumbing work, lathe machine operation, machine assembly finishing work (electronics), construction painting work, industrial packaging work, scaffolding work, bar assembly work, bread baking work, metal press operation, metal painting work, and plastic moulding.

The City of Muntinlupa has had sister-city relations with the City of Takasaki in Japan, leading to numerous training opportunities, educational scholarships, and cultural exchanges between the two cities, during the leadership of Mayor Fresnedi.

Preparations are currently ongoing for the renewal of sister-city relations with the City of Takasaki this coming November, promising more opportunities in the area of student and teacher exchange programs, skilled worker training, and medical assistance exchanges.

With the restoration of friendly ties, Fresnedi looks to carry on the legacy of honorable Muntinlupeño Kiyoshi Osawa, a Japanese philanthropist who supported numerous students with their education, and whose initiatives are now being implemented by his son Ichiro.

Those who wish to take hold of these employment opportunities can get in touch with PIO (862-4926), PESO (861-4633 / 659-2563) and MCTI (403-9629) for more details.

Muntinlupa Police nab rape suspect hiding for more than 10 years

It took a change in administration to finally close the net on a rape suspect who has been evading the law since a warrant for his arrest was issued a little over 13 years ago.

Muntinlupa Police recently arrested suspect Samuel Garcia, originally of Sitio Pagkakaisa, Barangay Sucat, who is alleged of raping his then-pregnant neighbor “Giselle” (not her real name) and has been constantly eluding law enforcers after a warrant for his arrest was issued in January 2000.

The breakthrough came following the sweeping change that is currently filling all sectors of the local government with the return of Mayor Jaime R. Fresnedi and a timely break in the case that literally led police to the suspect himself.

“We welcome this development (in the case), and it is our hope that our police will continue to be vigilant and persistent in solving cases such as this that have been around for a long time,” Fresnedi said. “I am also directing our law enforcers to step up their efforts so that incidents such as this will not be repeated.”

Fresnedi is currently on a campaign to straighten up the City Government, which has been in quite a sorry state due to some apparently questionable practices by the previous administration.

Protective services such as the Muntinlupa Police as well as public order and safety-related departments of the City Government are currently being pushed by Fresnedi to do their mandate to the best of their abilities and do away with the culture of complacency.

Among the activities being conducted to restore order are the renovation of signage and other structures, proper management of street vendors, more frequent garbage collection and cleaning services, and increased police visibility and safety patrols.