Once again, the administration of Mayor Honey Lacuna has taken another step to connect more directly to its constituency.
Last March 22, 2024, Mayor Honey brought straight to the community her regular ‘Capital Report’ where she reports on what happened in Manila City Hall or the city government in general, the days prior. It is also there that she makes announcements or impart significant information that the residents need to know soonest.
Before doing the trial ‘Capital Report’ in the barangay, our mayor had been carrying out such report in a makeshift studio in City Hall. There, she goes live on Facebook where her interaction with her audience comes via the netizens being able to air their comments, suggestions and even complaints.
With the community members as her ‘live’ audience, Mayor Honey was able to feel closer to the people she serves, as she reports to them straight, face-to-face, about the goings-on in her administration.
The mayor had opted to hold her first barangay capital report in the sixth district of Manila, to be followed by District 5, all the way to District 1.
This is intended to complement her “Kalinga sa Maynila,” a regular meeting also with the communities wherein residents from various barangays are gathered under one roof.
The “Kalinga,” which she began as soon as she assumed the position of the first lady mayor of Manila, was created to give the residents not only the chance to meet her upclose and personalbut moreso, the opportunity to air their concerns on certain issues.
Under a free-wheeling discussion, Mayor Honey would entertain question, suggestions and yes, even complaints.
Whatever office, bureau of department is the subject of the concerns, the mayor would direct the resident to the head concerned and the issue is addressed right away.
In each ‘Kalinga,’ Mayor Honey would normally require the presence of the heads of offices which are normally sought by residents for help or special concerns.
This way, the residents no longer have to go all the way to the City Hall and they are thus spared from spending precious time and money.
At the same time, Mayor Honey gets to hear the problems personally and learns from the residents themselves as she keeps herself open to suggestions.
The “Kalinga sa Maynila” is being held from District 1 onward, all the way to District 6. She said this will continue simultaneously with her Barangay Capital Report.
Both fora are meant to do one thing— that is, bring the basic services of City Hall straight to the communities and get them involved in what the Manila city government is doing.
It is clear that Mayor Honey is bent on bringing City Hall closer to the people of Manila and make them know and feel that their government is just within their reach.
