Atienza: No political plans after final term

From city mayor to senior adviser, this is the next role Manila Mayor Lito Atienza said he doesn’t mind assuming once he ends his third and final term in office next year.

Atienza, who turned 65 yesterday, said he would have to consider taking a step back to allow him to continue serving Manileños even after he steps down in June next year.

Is the mayor looking forward to retiring from politics and becoming Citizen Lito or will he aspire for a department or ambassadorial post?

"I am not aspiring for any political post. I want to play the role of senior adviser to the next mayor of Manila. Ending my three terms does not necessarily mean disengagement from the city we all love," he replied.

Atienza said wants to continue his involvement in the continuing development of Manila.

However, in order to achieve this, his successor must also share his vision. "Mas maganda kung ang mayor na susunod, yung talagang sumasailalim sa ating programa."

The mayor said his candidate of choice must be committed to public service.

"Pipili tayo ng magaling magtrabaho at hindi lamang magpapasarap sa pwesto."

He said that while he was able to achieve all the plans he outlined during his tenure, he believes it will require more than nine years of his term in order to fully develop the potentials of the city.

"Hindi pwedeng umunlad ang lungsod sa panandaliang magic lang kung hindi consistent long years of effort, reform in every department, reform in every sector and consistent pushing of a development plan. Yan ang aming pinagsisikapan for the past eight years now and we want this to continue for the next nine or 10 years," Atienza explained.

He described his more than eight years of service as mayor as "very gratifying" and "fruitful" because despite dissenting opinions, objections and obstacles to many of his projects, he was able to prove his critics wrong.

He expressed his gratitude to all those who supported him and his projects. The mayor also apologized to all those who were not satisfied with his performance. "Patawarin niyo na lang ako sa mga ikinainis niyo sa akin dahil ipinilit ko ang tama at ngayon naman ay nagbunga."

For the next 10 months, he would focus on structural improvements in the city such as renovating wet and dry markets, particularly in Paco, Quinta, Central Market, San Andres and inner city development along the secondary and tertiary roads.

As part of his birthday celebration yesterday, Atienza distributed 25 kilos of rice for each of the 3,500 pedicab drivers in the six districts of Manila.

They also received Philhealth cards and multivitamins.

In an earlier interview, he said that by celebrating with the pedicab drivers "masasabi ko na ang kasama ko sa kaarawan ko ay ang pinakamasipag na Manileño."