SENADO 2016, sino nga ba?

Francisco Domagoso/Isko Moreno

Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino

Born: Oct. 24, 1974; Manila 

 

More popularly known by his stage name Isko Moreno, will senatorial candidate Francisco Domagoso actually make it to the senate?

 

The Manila vice mayor filed a Certificate of Candidacy (COC) for Oct. 16, 2015 after quitting his position “Manila’s traffic czar.”

 

He ran under the slate of independent presidential and vice presidential candidates Grace Poe and Chiz Escudero.
 
Domagoso was called the “traffic czar” because of his implementation of the modified bus ban in 2015 and truck ban in 2014 following Metro Manila’s port congestion issues. These aimed for paving roads for trucks that cannot move out of ports due to heavy city traffic.

 

In 2015, the city council headed by Domagoso banned the entry of buses without Manila terminals. After several complaints, the bus ban changed its rule by allowing only 10 buses from each franchise in the city.

 

Domagoso said he implemented the ban to remove the “bad habits” of commuters and transport companies. He claimed that 1,000 buses passed through Manila even 166 only had terminals.

 

Commuters, trade groups, and even President Benigno Aquino III himself criticized the bans. Switching lanes have complicated routes in Metro Manila and have begun to deteriorate business imports.

 

Domagoso defended the city’s decision and called the lift of the bans as “a band-aid solution,” according to a Rappler report. He called for the decongestion of Subic and Batangas ports and foresight from the lawmaking body.

 

Aside from transport woes, the vice mayor also played a role in Manila’s hostage crisis of 2013.

 

Domagoso asked for a thank you from the Hong Kong government after substituting for former Manila mayor Alfredo Lim and saving eight lives in the incident.

 

“From morning to 6pm [of August 23, 2010] I was the one handling the entire incident. During the daytime I was the highest civilian authority … not mayor Lim, at that time. When Mendoza asked for food and gas, I asked for hostages in return," he said in a South China Morning Post report.

 

Hong Kong’s Investigation Review Committee, however, said the vice mayor was liable for the crisis after neglecting his studies. However, Lim had relieved Domagoso of his post after taking charge of the situation.

 

Domagoso became the youngest vice mayor in 2007 at age 33. He won with former President Joseph Estrada. He is currently the National President of the Vice Mayor’s League in the country.

 

Before that, however, he served as Manila’s district council from 1998 to 2004. While in service, he studied in Harvard university.

 

He also studied Management in the International Academy of Management and Economics. The University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman National College of Public Administration and Governance (NCPAG) gave him crash courses about Local Legislation and Finance.

 

The vice mayor, however, did not get his position easily. He appeared in German Moreno’s television show “That’s Entertainment” and movies like “Frats” in 1997. He only turned to politics in his later years.
    
Domagoso now has 4 kids with his wifeDytne.

 

Resources:
<https://raissarobles.com/2013/11/11/ex-mayor-alfredo-lim-could-offer-his-head-on-a-plate-to-resolve-the-luneta-hostage-standoff/>
<http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1372876/bio>
<http://manila.gov.ph/government/vice-mayor/>
<http://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections/2016/109501-isko-moreno-runs-senator>
<http://www.rappler.com/nation/107389-isko-moreno-2016-bid>
<http://www.philstar.com/entertainment/801427/isko-moreno-cinderella-man>
<https://www.facebook.com/iskomoreno/>
<http://www.rappler.com/business/industries/208-infrastructure/68572-isko-moreno-truck-ban-port-congestion>
<http://www.rappler.com/nation/35224-changes-manila-bus-ban>
<http://www.mb.com.ph/colorum-puvs-cheating-traders/>