http://cherrylaurel.wordpress.com/2009/07/08/...

so does this mean, de castro has given up da big position to villar?

MMDA hires ex-convicts for Tondominium project
July 06, 2009

MANILA, Philippines – The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority hired “hoodlums” in Tondo to work as masons, pipemen and carpenters for the agency’s “Tondominium” housing project in Manila, MMDA general manager Robert Nacianceno said yesterday.

Nacianceno said the MMDA’s objective is to help ex-convicts in their quest for a new life. He said they will be given regular salaries and assigned in areas near their homes.

“This is what we call character change – instead of by standing, extort and harass people in their community. Now, they will definitely have their own sources of income through this project that will be their way of changing their lives,” Nacianceno said.

Earlier, MMDA chairman Bayani Fernando vowed to coordinate with Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim to improve, not only the houses of the people of Tondo, but their livelihood and environment as well.

He said their livelihood and housing projects for the poor will not stop in Tondo.

“Tondo will no longer be considered a dangerous place after our project. I am confident that capitalists will be encourage to do business in Tondo once everything is placed in order,” Fernando said. – Jose Rodel Clapano

PhilStar.com

I’m currently based in Singapore right now and near my office, they had to reverse the flow of traffic on a small one way street. The government mailed flyers to all the offices and addresses in the area informing them of this change one whole month before they implemented it.

On the day itself, signs were put up 500m-1km away in nearby streets to alert motorists and traffic officers were deployed along the street to guide them. The arrows on the road were promptly repainted to point the other way, and corresponding No Entry signs were erected in all of that street’s intersections.

I wish MMDA would adopt a method that is equally considerate, transparent, and efficient as this whenever they choose to make changes in traffic policies.

I have the utmost respect for Bayani Fernando, I congratulate him for his accomplishments, and I applaud his attempts to make our city work better, but if he expects the citizens of Metro Manila to develop discipline and obey rules, then he himself and the government body he leads should set an example and act with discipline and follow the rules.

We’re actually not on the top page, but thank you for dropping by anyway.

Listen, I get what you’re saying. That Fernando is a “doer” and that he believes in the Filipino, etc. I wonder, though, if I should support a Father-knows-best administration.

Getting back on topic, though, the U-turn slots on Katipunan were repositioned again this week. Again, with no warning.

Onetamad, thank you pare for your nice welcome.
Medyo sikat kasi tong blog mo eh..rated ito in plenty of topics. This is in the top page under Bayani Fernando in Google kaya ko nabisita to, quite by accident….., pero fascinated ako sa exchanges of ideas here.

By the way, I am not the main consultant of the Fernandos.. I will be honored to be one pero I am just one of the many people who believes in the can do attitude of Chairman BF. He has a complete trust on the Filipino people..he never gave up on us. As MMDA Chairman, pwede syang pa kuyakuyakoy lang sa opisina but he chose to champion the public good instead. Surely, may mga taong will not be happy on the sudden changes that he initiated..as normal in most changes, and there are , to use the term in this blog, glib talkers and prolific writers , who will feast on the seemingly weaknesses of other people , but BF trust on Pilipino people says that someday, what he did will be appreciated. His running for presidency is only coincidental because he has this positive attitude even while he was jus a municipal mayor …
Thank you once again pre…hi everyone.

Yeah, you got me there. There aren’t 200 million squatters in the Philippines.

Tell me more about this program.

Do you mean 11,000 households of squatters? Or 11,000 individual squatters?

How was this done, and how big was the land area distributed? Was the land given for free, or was there an amortization plan?

Were they given access to utilities? What kind of support services were put in place?