Mayor Isko’s strong start

Less than a month after he took his oath of office, Mayor Isko has been aggressive with his promise to clean up Manila City. He began with Divisoria, Recto, Blumentritt, and Quiapo.

Mayor Isko has already destroyed illegal video karera machines, has threatened to deport a Chinese national caught peeing in public, he asked the removal of posters that show name and faces of government officials including his in public schools, and he cleared Divisoria of street vendors.

In an episode of Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho, Mayor Isko said he personally checks the complaints of his constituents through Messenger.

Isko said the most ideal scenario would be to break the wall between the city government and his constituents.

"I really wanted to talk to you as a constituent. The only wall between us is that screen, ‘yun ang tipo ng gobyernong gusto kong matamasa ng taong bayan (that’s the kind of government I want for my constituents).“ 

As someone who grew up in the streets of Tondo, Mayor Isko believes he can relate to the public well. He was a scavenger who became a pedicab driver as a teenager. He only finished high school so when he entered politics in 1998, many raised their eyebrows.

He ran and won as councilor of Manila’s 1st District, until he became Vice Mayor for three terms.

Like most politicians, Mayor Isko is caught up with controversies.

In 2013, he was arrested along with six other councilors in Manila after getting accused of being involved in an illegal gambling operation in the city.

A plunder case was also filed against him for allegedly pocketing P77 million real property tax.

Mayor Isko also tried running for senator in 2016 but lost, until last May he won against the biggest government names in Manila, Erap Estrada and Alfredo Lim.

Despite not being able to finish school, Isko has been doing things to level himself up. He keeps a Local Government Code book which he religiously reads.

Mayor Isko was also given the opportunity to study executive programs in Harvard and Oxford.

Fearless Isko

Some vendors disagree with Isko’s move to clean some streets in Manila. Teresita, a vendor who was affected by Mayor Isko's order, said the space given to her is smaller, catering to fewer goods to sell which leaves her with less sales.

However, some vendors understand Mayor Isko's order to remove illegal vendors in Divisoria, one of them, Baby Magno said she is contented with the place given to her to be able to continue her business.

"Opo. Binigyan niya na po kami ng tamang lugar kaya kuntento na po kami dun (Yes, he gave us a good location where we can sell our goods and we’re fine with it),” she said.

Mayor Isko said if the illegal vendors go back to sell their goods on the streets it meant he was bribed with the P5 million.

Mayor Isko said one of his infrastructure projects is to build a place where the vendors can sell and do their business legally. But the plan will take time to materialize.

When asked if he's not afraid that me might be stepping on dangerous people with what he has been implementing he said, "Ba't ka matatakot sa underworld? Kaya nga may tinatawag na gobyerno e. (Why will you get afraid of the “underworld”? The government is here to fix things) “

Many have been asking if he's planning to pursue a higher position in the government after his mayorship but he said no. He is planning to teach after his term.

For now, Isko said he needs everyone's help to make the capital city of the Philippines a better place.

"Tulungan ninyo muna akong mangarap para sa lungsod ng Maynila (Let’s hope for a better Manila), first things first, we have to deliver, I need your help. I need everybody's help."

In the episode, Mayor Isko revealed said he hasn't received his first pay as mayor yet.

He said they earn more than P100,000 a month and he has nothing to complain about.

"E basura nga kinakain ko noong araw, magrereklamo pa ako sa isandaang libo? (I used to eat leftovers when I was a kid. I can never complain about P100,000.)" — LA, GMA News