In just five working days, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno has moved swiftly to confront the city’s biggest challenges—exposing billions in unpaid debt, reinstating youth curfews, mobilizing cleanup drives, and confronting delayed public services.
His first actions as mayor focused on restoring order, accountability, and basic services across the capital.
𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟯𝟬: 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗱𝗿𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗹
Before officially taking office, Moreno addressed a critical sanitation crisis after receiving formal withdrawal letters from garbage contractors PhilEco and MetroWaste.
The companies cited non-payment from the previous administration as the reason for pulling out. In response, Moreno declared a State of Public Health Emergency in Manila and called on barangay officials to begin immediate cleanup operations.
He also signed Executive Order No. 2, reinstating curfew hours for minors from 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m., and personally conducted street inspections to observe early enforcement.
𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝟭: 𝗜𝗻𝗮𝘂𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘀 ₱𝟭𝟬.𝟮 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗗𝗲𝗯𝘁, 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀
At his official inauguration held at the session hall of Manila City Hall, Moreno delivered a pointed address outlining the fiscal condition of the city.
He revealed that Manila currently holds a negative ₱10.2 billion balance due to a backlog of unpaid financial obligations.
He cited unpaid liabilities including:
• ₱300 million owed to GSIS for employee benefits during his previous term
• An additional ₱200 million in new GSIS debt
• ₱589 million in social amelioration due to senior citizens for the second quarter
• ₱55 million in unpaid subsidies to PLM
• ₱26 million in delayed aid to the Manila Police District
• Over ₱2 billion in unpaid medical supplies and ₱995 million in unpaid hospital equipment
• ₱131 million owed to janitorial and security service providers
Moreno questioned the transparency of previous procurement decisions, including how employee contributions to GSIS were left unpaid.
“Hindi po ito pera ng mga politiko, pera po ‘to ng mga kawani ng pamahalaan,” he said.
He also challenged the structure of the previous rent-to-own housing program, pointing out the absence of land titles and subdivision plans that would secure ownership for residents.
In addition, he raised concerns over the misuse of public space, citing barangay halls built on sidewalks and the lack of coordination for major roadworks.
Moreno directed agencies such as DPWH, DOTr, Maynilad, Meralco, and PLDT to coordinate with City Hall and adhere to a 24/7 work schedule moving forward.
𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝟮: 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻
Moreno led his first Command Conference with the Manila Police District to discuss the rise in criminality and request the force’s full cooperation in maintaining peace and order.
He recognized their frontliner role and promised to prioritize their allowances despite budget constraints.
That day, the city formally received a Drainage Manhole Declogging Master Plan, aimed at addressing frequent flooding during the rainy season.
Moreno also convened the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, where officials reported that 60% of uncollected garbage left behind by the previous administration had been cleared.
Discussions also included evacuation center readiness and protocols for announcing class suspensions.
On the streets, Moreno reminded motorcycle riders to respect pedestrian lanes during a public inspection.
“Atras. Hanggang dyan lang kayo maghihintay… isipin mo nalang anak mo yung tatawid” he said.
𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝟯: 𝗔𝗶𝗱 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗢𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗽𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄
Moreno visited Barangay 420 to distribute ₱15,000 in financial assistance to each household affected by a recent fire.
He then convened over 100 barangay zone leaders to reinforce the implementation of two executive orders:
• EO No. 2 (curfew for minors)
• EO No. 3 (citywide cleanup and declogging every Saturday, beginning July 5)
Later in the day, he met with TELCOs and public utility companies regarding unpaid bills totaling ₱113.6 million. The debt covers services to public schools, hospitals, health centers, and City Hall offices.
𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝟰: 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗳𝗲𝘄 𝗘𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗠𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗿𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀
Moreno began the day with inspections of City Hall offices to evaluate their condition and functionality.
Meanwhile, the Manila Department of Social Welfare resumed rescue operations for minors violating the curfew, in coordination with barangay teams.
He also announced a crackdown on illegal motorcycle mufflers causing noise disturbances, stating that confiscations would begin immediately.
Later that afternoon, Moreno went live on Facebook to present several newly arrested suspects to the public.
The arrests included a man wanted for murder for the past 18 years in NCR, alleged gang members operating in R10, and a 16-year-old found in possession of a firearm.
Moreno commended the Manila Police for their active pursuit of fugitives and reiterated the city’s commitment to restoring order.
In just five days, Mayor Isko Moreno has not only exposed the scale of Manila’s financial and operational dysfunction—he’s also begun untangling it.
From uncollected garbage to unpaid hospital bills, from unfinished schools to unpaid city workers, his administration is moving fast to restore order and accountability.
What’s clear is that Moreno isn’t easing into office—he’s charging head-on.
With executive orders signed, cleanups underway, and debt trails uncovered, the first week signals a new tone at Manila City Hall: no excuses, no delays, and no tolerance for neglect.
