MAYOR Honey Lacuna, that’s how the Mayor is addressed, has been well-known for knowing the ins and outs of Manila, the capital city of the Philippines. Although she is the daughter of the former Vice Mayor Danilo “Danny” Bautista Lacuna, Sr., she earns the popularity. She is the highly praised Vice Mayor supporting the former Mayor Isko Moreno. When elected, she becomes the first-ever female Chief of the City and the local people in Manila celebrated the history-making moment. What other qualities does she bring? Let’s look closer at what makes her darling among Manilanos.
Mayor Honey earned a degree in Biology from the University of Santo Tomas and a Doctor of Medicine degree from the De La Salle University Emilio Aguinaldo College in Dasmariñas, Cavite.
Before climbing up to the mayoral post, Mayor Honey Lacuna served the city and people in various roles, including becoming Chairman of the Committee on Education of the City Council of Manila, Director of Manila Department of Social Welfare (2013-2015), and Public Health Centre Physician under the Manila Health Department (1995-2004). Once was Member of all the 38 Committees of the City Council of Manila, Mayor Honey is well-known for the development of various significant regulations positively contributing to the city and its local people. Included are the designation of bicycle and motorcycle lanes on main streets in Manila; the creation of the Manila Council for prevention and control of sexually transmitted infections and mandating all business establishments, and private and public offices in the City of Manila to conduct unannounced drug tests at least once a year. When she became Director of the Manila Department of Social Welfare from 2013 to 2015, Mayor Honey prioritised programmes that support the city’s underprivileged and socially vulnerable sector, low-income families, homeless, informal settlers, abandoned children, children in conflict with the law, school dropouts, juvenile offenders, elders, people with disabilities, and disaster-stricken families.
Supporting former Mayor Isko, she was fully trusted with a lot of executive functions especially concerning healthcare services and other medical-related matters that would bolster the benefit of city residents. Her background in medicine made her obtain the trust of the mayor to fully supervise the city government’s health cluster, particularly the six city-run hospitals. She was also not to hand out financial aid to those needing medical assistance; instead, she rode her motorcycle and provided free check-ups and medical help for the needy.
(Vice) Mayor Lacuna is one of former Mayor Moreno’s most trusted long-time advisers and got the full support to run as the City Mayor. With the COVID pandemic striking, (Vice) Mayor Lacuna admitted that there were some promises not yet come to fruition. Therefore, it comes as no surprise when she made a promise to implement the rest of the plan if she wins. Lacuna vowed to continue the programmes of Domagoso like housing, financial support for the elderly and students of city-run Universidad de Manila and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, improvement of the health care system, and modernisation of public-school buildings.
Sources:
https://journal.com.ph/lacuna-excels-as-manilas-vice-mayor/
https://www.rappler.com/nation/honey-lacuna-swears-in-first-female-mayor-philippine-capital-manila/
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1174128
https://opinion.inquirer.net/146756/lacuna-vs-lopez-showdown-looms-in-manila
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