MANILA, Philippines – Saying that he has gotten a “one-in-a-million” chance to rise from the slums to head Manila City Hall, Mayor-elect Isko Moreno vowed not to fail the country’s capital.

In a Rappler Talk interview on Saturday, May 18, Moreno said he will not allow officials, even his friends or allies, to mess up his term, which is why he will fire them at the first instance of corruption.

“We will not tolerate. Isang beses ka lang, wala nang ulitan (Just one strike, you won’t be able to do it again),” Moreno said.

Manila has an average annual budget of P14 billion. Moreno himself said he prays that he wouldn’t end up in the corruption sinkhole.

“These people who are friends of mine, and I am calling them now, and I am asking them now that they’re going to be part of the new government: Please let’s not waste this opportunity that will come and go,” Moreno said.

In toppling political giant Joseph Estrada, Moreno ran on the campaign of cleaning up Manila and boosting social services. He promised to provide jobs and pension for senior citizens, allowances for students, and food for children.

As for infrastructure, Moreno aims to launch a 10-year development plan which would include the construction of a shopping strip in Divisoria, a new city hall, vertical in-city social housing, and the creation of a “green city” that would rival Taguig City’s Bonifacio Global City. – Rappler.com