Director of UST Office of Public Affairs Micha Lagniton, Business Development Manager Jordan Tan, Branded Content Group head Irish Lorenzo, Publisher Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr., President and Vice Chairman Dr. Emilio C. Yap III, Environment and Sustainability Editor Len Amadora, Sustainability Events Co-lead Philip Cu-Unjieng Brand and Marketing Manager Leslie Araujo pose for a photo with Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso during the morning session of ‘s Sustainability Forum at the University of Santo Tomas on Thursday, April 30.
Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Thursday, April 30, outlined his administration’s push for sustainable development, highlighting expanded healthcare services, improved education, job creation, and inclusive programs as key achievements.
Speaking at the Sustainability Forum held at the University of Santo Tomas, Domagoso said global frameworks like the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) only become meaningful when local governments translate them into concrete action.
“These goals are only as meaningful as the local government willing to carry them out,” he said. “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 healthcare, the mayor highlighted the opening of the city’s seventh district hospital in Baseco, a community he described as historically underserved, as well as the launch of a cardiac catheterization laboratory at Ospital ng Maynila.
He noted that procedures costing up to P300,000 in private hospitals are now available free of charge, alongside more than P500 million allocated for medicines and hospital equipment.
Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso and President and Vice Chairman Dr. Emilio C. Yap III, listen to a speech by Sonny Coloma, publisher, during a Sustainability Forum held in Manila.
In education, Domagoso cited the construction of new public elementary and secondary schools, the installation of Smart TVs in kindergarten classrooms across the city, the release of allowances for over 11,000 teachers, and the provision of free milk for young learners.
He also pointed to economic gains, saying reforms such as the reopening of the Electronic Business One Stop Shop and streamlined documentary requirements led to a more than 300-percent increase in business tax collection during the administration’s first three months.
These efforts, he added, attracted P7.1 billion in new investments and generated over 12,000 jobs.
On social inclusion, Domagoso pointed to the recently held Summer Pride Parade 2026, which drew thousands of LGBTQIA+ members, families, and allies from Ermita to Remedios Circle. He said the event reflects the city’s broader inclusion agenda, anchored on policies such as the Anti-Discrimination Ordinance passed during his first term.
“A city that leaves anyone behind is not a sustainable city,” he said.
In closing, the mayor urged students in attendance to remain engaged and hold leaders accountable, emphasizing the role of the youth in shaping future policies.
“Sustainability means making decisions today that the next generation will be grateful for,” Domagoso said. “In Manila, that is exactly what we are doing.”