By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso on Thursday said Manila is proving that the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals don’t “implement themselves” — pointing to free heart procedures, 12,000 new jobs, and the city’s first Summer Pride Parade as results of actual local work.
Speaking at the Manila Bulletin Sustainability Forum at the University of Santo Tomas, Domagoso said global goals only matter if cities act on them.
“These goals are only as meaningful as the local government is willing to carry them out,” he told students and guests. “They do not implement themselves. They do not fund themselves. Somebody has to do the actual work. In Manila, we are doing the work.”
On health, Domagoso cited two big moves:
7th District Hospital: Opened in Baseco, a community he called “historically underserved.”
Ospital ng Maynila now runs a cardiac catheterization lab. A procedure that costs up to P300,000 in private hospitals is free for Manileños.
The city has also released over P500 million for medicines and hospital equipment.
New public elementary and secondary schools were built
Smart TVs are installed in all kindergarten classrooms citywide
Allowances released for over 11,000 teachers
Free milk program for children
Domagoso said easing red tape paid off. The city reopened its Electronic Business One Stop Shop and cut documentary requirements.
Result in the first three months:
Business tax collection up 300%+
P7.1 billion in new investments
Over 12,000 jobs generated
On social inclusion, Domagoso pointed to last Saturday’s Summer Pride Parade 2026. Thousands of LGBTQIA+ members, families, and allies marched from Ermita to Remedios Circle — the first Pride Parade under his current term.
He linked it to his first-term Anti-Discrimination Ordinance, which gave legal protections to Manila’s LGBTQIA+ community.
“A city that leaves anyone behind is not a sustainable city,” he said.
Domagoso closed by challenging UST students to hold leaders accountable and serve without waiting to be asked.
“Sustainability means making decisions today that the next generation will be grateful for,” he said. “In Manila, that is exactly what we are doing.”
ia/xf
