MANILA Mayor Honey Lacuna assured all the 34 barangays in the whole Chinatown area of the city government’s support in any way possible, specially against any form of harassment.
Lacuna gave the assurance as she graced the induction of the new set of officers of the Manila Chinatown Barangay Organization (MCBO) along with Vice Mayor Yul Servo and City Administrator Bernie Ang who serves as the groups’s Senior Executive Adviser.
The mayor expressed gladness that the MCBO had been revived in order to address problems that may affect the barangays specifically in the Chinatown area.
“This is such a welcome development as we, in the city government of Manila, enjoin the citizens and our barangay officials to help us know and address all the problems that the city may have now or in the future,” Lacuna said.
Ang, who spoke and gave a brief background of the organization during the event, said that the MCBO will serve as an advisory body to the city to keep it informed of the area’s status and needs.
He said the MCBO is expected to report and coordinate with the city government on issues affecting the grassroots level which is directly under the jurisdiction of barangays.
These issues, Ang said, also include harassment from any law enforcement bodies, noting that Chinatown residents are usually targets of unscrupulous elements.
Also present in the affair were DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos who gave the keynote address, former Mayor Lito Congressman Joel Chua and third district Councilors Apple Nieto, Fa Fugoso and Tol Zarcal with Justice Abad Santos General Hospital Director Dr. Merle Sacdalan serving as master of ceremony.
MCBO Executive Adviser Nelson Guevarra said the organization is headed by Chairman Jefferson Lau as its president and who took over from its former president Chairman Bernard Go.
It was formed during the time of Mayor Atienza and is comprised of 34 barangays covering the areas of Binondo and San Nicolas. (Baby Cuevas)
