MUNTINLUPA, as an independent municipality, turned 104 years yesterday (Dec. 19) and Muntinlupa officials are expected to mark the event today with a very subdued celebration.
On Dec. 19, 1917, Governor General Francis Burton Harrison signed the proclamation separating Muntinlupa from Taguig, and making the latter an independent municipality. Since then, Muntinlupa marched, slowly at first, but later rapidly transformed itself from a 5th class municipality into a highly urbanized city. Muntinlupa achieved cityhood in March 1, 1995.
Like most LGUs, Muntinlupa was heavily affected by the COVID 19 pandemic. But thanks to an effective whole-of-community response, led by Mayor Jaime R. Fresnedi, Muntinlupa is getting back on its feet. At its peak, COVID active cases reached 27,596 and resulted in 579 fatalities. But more than the casualties, the pandemic wreaked havoc on Muntinlupa’s thriving business, causing massive unemployment. As of today, Muntinlupa has vaccinated 412,397 individuals, 111.46 percent more than target, effectively reducing active cases to only 7.
Fresnedi acknowledges the invaluable participation of practically the whole community in achieving this. Very noteworthy are the contributions of the barangays, the police, the medical front-liners (led by the City Health Office), the National COVID-19 Vaccine Operations Center, and private establishments, like SM Center Muntinlupa, Festival Supermall, Ayala Malls South Park, Alabang Town Center, PLDT and Globe. The Department of Labor and Employment also pitched in by providing emergency employment opportunities thru its TUPAD program.
Surprisingly, despite pandemic conditions, Muntinlupa managed to continue with its “build, build, build” thrust. Despite the challenging period, the city government managed to complete the BALAI Muntinlupa Housing Project in Lakeview, Barangay Putatan. BALAI Muntinlupa consists of 35 buildings with 668 housing units earmarked for employees and officials of the city government.
The city government also completed the following: one four-storey building at the Poblacion National High School (NHA Southville 3), one four-storey building at Lakeview Senior High School and the extension of the Muntinlupa Student Center for Life Skills in Laguerta, Barangay Tunasan.
A long list of infrastructure projects – mostly school buildings and the much-awaited aquatic center – are expected to be unveiled during the next few months.
The efforts of the city government have not gone unnoticed. The Department of Trade and Industry recently ranked Muntinlupa as The Most Resilient Highly Urbanized City and the 5th Most Competitive in Infrastructure. This is the second year in a row that Muntinlupa topped the Most Resilient category.
Annually, the DTI through the National Competitiveness Council conducts the Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index which ranks local government units in the country on four convergent pillars namely: Economic Dynamism, Government Efficiency, Infrastructure, and Resilience.
For its exemplary performance in nutrition program management, the National Nutrition Council (NNC) – NCR conferred the Green Banner Award to Muntinlupa City, the highest citation given by the regional agency to local government units. The NNC also conferred seven other related awards to Muntinlupa.
In another front, Muntinlupa bagged awards in the first-ever GCash Digital Excellence Awards. GCash lauded the initiatives of the City Government in pioneering the use of digital financial products to improve the delivery of services for its constituents.
Muntinlupa City won the Excellence in Digital Public Aid Distribution and Excellence in Digital Advancement for the Youth (together with Muntinlupa Science High School).
Last August, Muntinlupa partnered with GCash for a contactless mode of financial aid distribution to city residents who were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The local government utilized the digital platform of GCash to reduce physical contact among beneficiaries and minimize the risk of further COVID-19 transmission. Cash aid beneficiaries were enjoined to create their GCash accounts thru the in-app sign-in feature and register their details in a local database.
At the top of the current Muntinlupa leadership structure are Mayor Jaime R. Fresnedi and Representative Rozzano Rufino Biazon, of the lone congressional district of Muntinlupa.
The Muntinlupa City Council is currently composed of the following:
* Vice Mayor Artemio “Temy” Simundac (Presiding Officer)
* District 1 Councilors – Louisito Arciaga, Paty Katy Boncayao, Allan Rey Camilon, Raul Corro (Majority Floor Leader), Alexson Diaz, Valentino Niefes, Ivee Rhea Tadefa, Stephanie Teves
* District 2 Councilors – Dhesiree Arevalo, Mark Lester Baes, Francis Ian Bagatsing, Arlene Hilapo, Cornelio Eliot Martinez, Marissa Rongavilla, Mamerto Sevilla Jr.
* ABC President – Walter Arcilla
* SK President – Kenichi Takagi Jr.
The nine Muntinlupa barangays are headed, as follows: Tunasan – Kap. Walter Arcilla; Poblacion – Kap. Allen Ampaya; Putatan – Kap. Danilo Teves; Bayanan – Kap. Adorado San Pedro; Alabang – Kap. Christine May Abas; Ayala Alabang – OIC Kap. Marcus Lester Suntay; Cupang – Kap. Rainier Bulos; Buli – Kap. Ronaldo Loresca; Sucat – Kap. Rafael Sevilla.
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