Mayor Alfredo Lim’s 100 Days
H e may be
tough as nails when its comes to criminals thus earning him the moniker "Dirty
Harry" but Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim undeniably had a also has a soft spot for
his fellow Manilenos. With his 100 days now behind him the chinky-eyed local
executive believes there are more difficult tasks ahead in his three-year tenure
to live up to his promise of enshrining Manila to its lofty throne as the
Philippines’ premier city.
Early life
Lim was born December 21, 1929 to Alfredo Lim of Manila and
Rosario Sojo of San Miguel, Bulacan.
He attended primary education at the P. Gomez Elementary
School, high school secondary education at Far Eastern University and college at
the University of the East with a degree in business administration and law.
He earned his Masters in National Security Administration at
the National Defense College of the Philippines.
Foray in
public service
He began public service as superintendent of the Philippine
National Police Academy from March 1984 to January 1985. His leadership skills
earned him the post of director of the Northern Police District from January 2,
1985 to May 1, 1986 and of the Western Police District from May 2, 1986 to
December 21, 1989.
Immediately after his retirement from the police force in
Dec. 21, 1989 with the rank of Major General, Lim was appointed director of the
National Bureau of Investigation.
In the 1992 elections, Lim ran and won as Mayor of Manila.
He won reelection in 1995 with a margin of 250,000 votes, the
highest majority of vote in the city’s political history.
Lim’s political clout did not stop there as he was named
Secretary of Interior and Local Government from January 8, 2000 to January 19,
2001.
Lim ran for president in the 1998 elections but lost. In the
2004 polls he was back in the political limelight when he won as Senator with a
six-year term until 2010. He however cut short his term when he decided to
reclaim his office in the seat of government of the city of Manila in the last
May 2007 elections.
Achievements
A multi-awarded public servant and be-medalled police
officer, Lim was given numerous recognitions the most notable are:
1. The first policeman to receive seven Ten Outstanding
Policeman of the Philippines (TOPP) awards given by the Philippine Jaycees in
July 12,1990.
2. Most Outstanding Law Enforcer awarded by the Consumers
Union of the Philippines in November 12, 1990.
3. 1994 Gintong Ama awardee for Government and Public
Service.
4. Mayor of the First Peace City in Asia by the Rotary Club
of Kooringal, Wagga Wagga Australia c/o Rotary Club of Manila in June 1994.
5. President Osmena Most Outstanding Public Servant awardee
in 1992.
6. Outstanding Manileno for Public Service in 1986 (Law
Enforcement)
7. Outstanding Achievement Medal in 1995 for professional competence as PNPA
superintendent.
First 100 days
For his first 100 days Lim focused his governance on the
following:
City site development such as reopening of Avenida, Rizal
to traffic; clearing of sidewalks; removal of beerhouses along Baywalk and
reopening of the Museo ng Maynila;
Fight against crime and corruption such as demolition of
Little Vietnam in Quiapo; removal of corrupt officials; and honest to goodness
collection of taxes;
Rewards and benefits to city employees such as
reclassification of employees from temporary to permanent and promotion of those
who are qualified whose promotions have been with held for the past nine years;
Promotion of good culture such as promotion of Filipino
hospitality and cultural values and
Education such as free tertiary education at he Pamantasan ng Maynila and
City College of Manila and likewise free education to dependents of policemen.
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