Manila mayoral bet hits Isko for asset selling spree

Manila mayoral candidate and former congressman Amado Bagatsing on Wednesday claimed an alleged sale of several assets by the Manila government amid the COVID-19 pandemic and despite earning P44 billion profit from previous asset sales.

Citing data by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Bagatsing said that the Manila government has already disposed of assets which gave it a profit of P44 billion in 2022.

“Ako’y na-shock nung malaman kong meron palang pera ang ating lungsod na P44 bilyones. Eh bakit mangungutang pa ng P25 bilyon? Bakit ibebenta pa ang Divisoria Market sa halagang P1.5 bilyon? Bakit pa ibebenta ‘yung mga ibang asset ng lungsod katulad ng City College of Manila sa may Escolta?” he said in a media forum.

(I was shocked when I found out that our city has P44 billion. Why do they still need to borrow P25 billion? Why sell the Divisoria Market for P1.5 billion? Why sell other city assets like City College of Manila in Escolta?)

Bagatsing stressed that the timing of the alleged move was “highly questionable” as the market price is low in light of the pandemic.

He then urged presidential candidate Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and incumbent Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan, and even the city council, to explain the matter to the Manileños.

“Wala namang compelling reason, wala namang dahil na pagmamadaliin mo na ibenta mo ‘yung mga gusali na ‘yan. At ang masama nito, ang presyo ng lupa, ang baba ng benta mo dahil walang negosyo kasi pandemiya. ‘Yung mga timing na  ‘yan, sila ang dapat mag-explika niyan. Nagtatanong lang kami bilang taxpayer at bilang Manileño,” he added.

(There is no compelling reason for them to rush to sell those establishments. The bad thing about this is that the price of the land is low because there is no business due to the pandemic. The timing, they should explain that. We are just asking as taxpayers and as Manileños.)

Bagatsing further claimed that the vendors in the Divisoria Market were not informed about the sale of the establishment, and are now at risk of being displaced.

Asked where the affected vendors will be transferred if such selling will push through, he said, “Wala nga, nakakalat na lang (nowhere, they will be displaced).”

Aksyon Demokratiko chairman Ernest Ramel Jr. previously said that the alleged sale of the Divisoria Public Market was a “black propaganda” of the vloggers of former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. vloggers after Moreno’s party brought up the P203 billion estate tax debt the Marcos family owes to the Philippine government.

City Councilor Jong Isip said he would ask a certification from the Manila government on its current finances after the Holy Week.

Meanwhile, Manila councilor Princess Abante explained that the Manila government in 1991 enacted an ordinance that authorized the then city mayor to enter a contract for the redevelopment of the Divisoria Market for 25 years. A year later, Linkworld was awarded a contract to develop and manage the Divisoria market.

The corporation extended its term for another 25 years after the new Divisoria mall was hit by fire in May 2013. Former Manila mayor Joseph Estrada later entered into another agreement with Linkworld, extending the original agreement for another 25 years until 2046.

GMA News Online sought for comment from Moreno’s camp but has yet to receive one.

If he wins, Bagatsing said that we will expand Manila’s lands as opposed to what the current local chief executives are doing.

“Palakihin natin ang ating lupain para lumaki ang assets natin. ‘Yung tandem ngayon sa Maynila, inuubos ang assets natin. Ako, ang gusto ko, dagdagan ang asset natin kaya gusto kong palakihin ang ating lungsod para sa future po ‘yan,” he added.

(Let us grow our lands to grow our assets. The current tandem in Manila is giving away our assets. For me, I want to increase our assets as I want to grow our city for the future.)—LDF, GMA News