BUHAYIN NATING MULI ANG MAYNILA PROGRAM

BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT

If the residents of Manila were to give Atienza another 3-year mandate, he vowed to launch the
“Buhayin ang Maynila” program, which focused on building what he had started during his
tenure.

It was presented as an immediate solution to poverty, which Atienza claimed to be the city’s
main problem, by focusing on boosting the city’s economy. Among his plans were efficient
delivery of basic social services, creating job opportunities and providing the necessary financial
support for small and medium enterprises which can fuel job creation. All projects within this
program were meant to help improve the quality of life of the people of Manila particularly those
who are impoverished.

With this, Atienza hoped to bring in investors into the city by improving the city's infrastructure
and peace and order situation. Through this, the city’s economy will be rekindled, which can
result in more jobs for the unemployed.

PROGRAMS WITHIN THE PROJECT

The “Buhayin Nating Muli Ang Maynila'' project had a wide array of programs, all of which
mainly focused on reviving the city’s economy.

Atienza promised to order all pedicab drivers to secure licenses, to protect these small
operators from illegal acts such as extortion and unlawful collection.

He also launched an organized program in which vendors will be relegated to operate in

designated areas only, as a way to increase the quality of life and profit of the vendors.

To further assist small businesses, Atienza offered loans and capital through cooperatives. He
also encouraged job creation by launching livelihood classes, ranging from cutting hair to hotel
management.

He also promoted self-sufficiency in areas by encouraging citizens to grow their own herbal
plants, to sell to the local government, who sold these to companies; also by introducing
programs to teach citizens how to turn garbage into profit.
EFFECTS IN THE CITY OF MANILA

With it being mainly a beautification project, Atienza managed to renovate most of Manila’s
decaying public facilities, including lighting in the city, and improving the sidewalk in Manila Bay
and Roxas Boulevard, which is now filled with different businesses.

He also improved public places such as the Plaza Miranda, the Andres Bonifacio monument,
Rajah Sulayman, areas around Binondo, the creation of a Linear-Park in Pandacan, renovating
Carriedo and the R. Hidalgo streets in Santa Cruz.

Included which are upgrading services of the city's public libraries, schools and hospitals
comprising the Ospital ng Maynila, and the construction of a permanent campus in the form of
Universidad de Manila, though the said construction was criticized by local activists calling for its
discontinuation, as the campus’ location is in the Mehan Gardens, considered as a place with
great historical importance.