MMDA, UPCMCFI laud Muntinlupa City as it earns positive rating in Metro Manila Smoke-Free Policy Compliance Study

In a recent study conducted by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication Foundation, Inc. on the compliance level of NCR cities in implementing Smoke-Free Policies, the City of Muntinlupa earns a high rating receiving a ‘Very Satisfactory’ remark.

MMDA and UPCMCFI presented the results to members of the Muntinlupa City Smoke-Free Task Force last October 16 during a virtual meeting with Metro Manila LGUs execs.

Muntinlupa City earned a Very Satisfactory rating with a compliance rate of 74.1% in the Smoke-Free Policy Compliance Study among Metro Manila cities conducted last December 2019 to February 2020.  MMDA and UPCMCFI lauded the city’s strong commitment in promoting a healthy environment through the regulation of tobacco products. Local government units were assessed in four compliance metrics namely Advertising and Promotions, Enforcement, Selling, and Smoking Behavior in three observation venues including school (within 100m vicinity), transportation terminals, and moving public utility vehicles.

Among the compliance metrics, Muntinlupa City earned the highest rating on Advertising and Promotions with 99.1% and Smoking Behavior with 79.4%.

(L-R seated) Public Information Officer Tez Navarro, City Health Officer Dra. Teresa Tuliao, CHO exec Dra. Magdalena Meana, and Deputy City Administrator Roger John Smith. (source – Muntinlupa PIO)

Mayor Jaime Fresnedi expressed his gratitude to MMDA and UPCMCFI for the recognition and vowed to continue its advocacy towards a smoke-free city especially amid the pandemic.

“We continually urge the public to quit smoking and live a healthy lifestyle especially amid the pandemic as a preventive measure against complications brought about by COVID-19,” Fresnedi said.

Muntinlupa City is a pioneer in enacting a Comprehensive Smoke Free Ordinance through City Ordinance No. 17-072 following President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order (EO) No. 26 or known as the Nationwide Smoking Ban. Under the local ordinance, the use and distribution of cigarette and tobacco products are prohibited in the city.

Since its implementation last 2017, the Department of Health (DOH) has conferred the Red Orchid Award to the City Government of Muntinlupa for two consecutive years (2018-2019) in recognition of its outstanding initiatives against tobacco use.

For more information or to report violators, you may contact the Smoke-Free Task Force or the City Health Office at 8935-6824 or visit the City Health Office-Muntinlupa Facebook Page.

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Latest City Government of Muntinlupa details sourced from their official media release. Some parts were edited for this website.

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Muntinlupa City approves landmark Freedom of Information ordinance, 4th in NCR

The City Government of Muntinlupa approved the landmark Freedom of Information Ordinance of 2020, the 4th city in the National Capital Region (NCR) to localize the FOI bill, to ensure transparency in local governance.

Mayor Jaime Fresnedi signed the Ordinance 2020-139 or known as the FOI Ordinance of 2020 On October 14, 2020 to give Muntinlupa as well as non-Muntinlupa residents access to information, officials’ records, public records and documents, and papers pertaining to official acts, among others.

Fresnedi said the City Government recognizes the importance of the people’s right to government information by providing a local mechanism to ensure that these rights are respected and upheld.

City Ordinance 2020-139 is an adoption of Executive Order No.2 s. 2016 upholding the right of people to information on matters of public concern. Muntinlupa City is the 4th LGU in NCR to enact an FOI ordinance following Pasig, Valenzuela, and Quezon City.

Under the local ordinance, departments in Muntinlupa LGU are required to make public records available such as contracts, transactions and any information requested by a member of the public, except for sensitive information and matters affecting national security.

Any person who request access to information may consult the local FOI Focal Person for the processing of a request or may go directly to the concerned office that has the information being requested.

If the retrieved information has been approved for release, the FOI Receiving Officer shall immediately notify the requestor of the decision and release the information within fifteen (15) working days upon receipt of request.

Failure of any government officer to comply with the provisions of the ordinance shall be ground for reprimand for first offense, suspension of one (1) to thirty days for second offense, or dismissal from the service for third offense.

Muntinlupa Public Information Officer Tez Navarro said the City Government supports the Presidential Communications Operations Office’s thrust on continuing proactive information disclosure efforts in the spirit of openness and transparency.

She noted that the IRR is still underway but the public can now coordinate with the Public Information Office being designated as the FOI concerned office.

For more information, visit Muntinlupa City’s website at www.muntinlupacity.gov.ph or contact the Public Information Office located at 2F Annex Building, Muntinlupa City Hall with tel. no. (02) 8886-7091 and email address lingkodbayan.muntinlupa@gmail.com.

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Latest City Government of Muntinlupa details sourced from their official media release. Some parts were edited for this website.

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Muntinlupa City partners with DOST, UP-IPB to train communities on hydroponics, provides free seeds and seedlings to promote urban farming

The City Government of Muntinlupa, through the Extension Services Office (formerly Department of Agriculture – Muntinlupa), launched its “Gulayan sa Lungsod ng Muntinlupa” program and has partnered with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and University of the Philippines Institute of Plant Breeding (UP-IPB) for the training of communities on innovative farming technologies and to promote urban agriculture.

ESO acting chief Malou Lobo said the city aims to revive urban agriculture and urban farming as a response to augment food security amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Lobo said the City Government has partnered with DOST and UP-IPB for the conduct of SNAP Hydroponics Training, an innovative farming technology, to two pilot communities in Brgy. Sucat.

She noted that the urban site in Doña Rosario Heights serves as the city’s Urban Model Farm while the farming site in Paradise Garden community is the city’s Communal Model Farm which is being managed by the 4P’s (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program) beneficiaries. Recently, the DOST donated 200 S.N.A.P (Simple Nutrient Addition Program) Kit Solutions for Hydroponics to the City Government and were distributed to pilot communities.

This project brought Muntinlupa back to its agricultural roots. (source – Muntinlupa PIO)

DA-ESO is working with 12 Home Owners Associations, three (3) Cooperatives, and six (6) Youth Organizations for the urban agriculture initiative. The agriculture department conducts regular urban farming site visitations, online trainings and monitoring of communities to ensure the sustainability of the program.

As of October 2020, at least 2,224 packs of vegetable seeds, 5,302 vegetable seedlings, and 118 liters of organic fertilizers were distributed to the different communities through the Sustainable Nutrition Augmentation Program.

Further, DA-ESO provides free seeds and seedlings to the public to further promote backyard farming. Residents and urban farmer may need to register via DA-ESO Facebook Page fb.com/daeso.muntinlupa.

Recipients will be asked to coordinate and send documentation of their progress to DA-ESO for monitoring. The department commits to provide recommendations and trainings to the recipients to help them grow their crops.

DA-ESO also launched Balitang Agri, a series of educational shows demonstrating proper ways of planting vegetable crops, as part of the department’s information campaign. Balitang Agri covers topics which include plant culture, soil groups, composting, and agricultural marketing, among others. For more information, visit DA-ESO Facebook Page or reach them at 5th Floor, Annex Building, City Government of Muntinlupa with tel. nos. 8861-6498 / 8861-3042.

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Latest City Government of Muntinlupa details sourced from their official media release. Some parts were edited for this website.

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POPCOM-NCR, Muntinlupa City sign MOU on enhancement of local development planning

The City Government of Muntinlupa formally entered into a partnership with the Commission on Population and Development-NCR to enhance the city’s planning process through the integration of population and development (PopDev) interrelationships and dynamics. 

Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi signed a Memorandum of Understanding with POPCOM-NCR Director Lydio M. Español, Jr. and other local execs at Muntinlupa City Hall on October 14.

Also joining the ceremony were POPCOM-NCR ARD Joyce Hilvano and Accountant Samuel Bicaldo, City Administrator Engr. Allan A. Cachuella, City Planning and Development Officer Alvin Veron, and City Health Officer Dra. Tet Tuliao.

The Commission on Population and Development-NCR partners with the local government of Muntinlupa to enhance the local planning process last October 14. (L-R) POPCOM-NCR Accountant Samuel Bicaldo, City Administrator Engr. Allan A. Cachuella, City Planning and Development Officer Alvin Veron, Mayor Jaime Fresnedi, City Health Officer Dra. Tet Tuliao, POPCOM-NCR Director Lydio M. Español, Jr., and POPCOM-NCR ARD Joyce Hilvano. (source – Muntinlupa PIO)

The partnership aims to enhance the city’s Ecological Profile (EP) to ensure evidence-based development planning and integration of people’s actual needs and aspirations in the local development plan.

Under the MOU, POPCOM-NCR shall provide technical assistance to the City Government for the identification of population and development indicators that can be integrated in the EP to ensure comprehensiveness of local demographic and critical socio-economic indicators to be used as bases for development planning.

The Commission shall also mentor LGU personnel to develop a model of good practices for PopDev mentoring approaches at the local level.

Mayor Jaime Fresnedi extended his gratitude to POPCOM-NCR for their commitment in assisting the city towards achieving sustainable and data-informed development.

Following the MOU signing ceremony, POPCOM-NCR execs turned over the commission’s donation composed of sets of personal protective equipment for local medical frontliners.

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Latest City Government of Muntinlupa details sourced from their official media release. Some parts were edited for this website.

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Skyway 3 project completed

It is all out in the news here in the Philippines and it is the best piece of infrastructure and travel-related news for travelers, business stakeholders and other concern parties specifically here in Metro Manila and the communities outside its boundaries – San Miguel Corporation (SMC)’s president and chief operation officer (COO) Ramon S. Ang announced the completion of the Skyway 3 project (AKA Skyway Stage 3) which is almost eighteen kilometers long. Right now, they are working on completing the finishing touches before formally opening it to the public.

Personally, I am happy for their achievement!

A great view of a portion of Skyway Stage 3. (source – Mark Villar Facebook page)

For the newcomers reading this, the Skyway 3 project is composed of a 17.93 kilometer stretch that links the norther and southern parts of Luzon by means of a modern highway. More specifically, once the newly completed project finally opens, travel from the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) to the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) will take only twenty minutes which will be a major improvement from the average of 2-3 hours (without Skyway 3). It should be noted that the project was completed way before the October 31, 2020 target of completion.

“I’m happy to announce that the whole structure of Skyway 3 is now complete. With this, Skyway 2 in Buendia is now officially extended all the way to the North Luzon Expressway. After many challenges, this project faced in previous years, the dream of connecting north and south and providing an alternative to Edsa is now a reality,” Ang said in a press statement released on October 13.

As mentioned earlier, I am happy for the completion of Skyway 3 and soon it will finally be opened to public motorists (who can afford to pay the eventual toll fees). Each year for the past several years, I travel from Alabang to Clark and Subic Bay to attend important events. During those times, it was a struggle to move from south to north and back WITHOUT Skyway 3. The traffic along EDSA (which passes through different Metro Manila cities and on the maze of roads within the City of Manila were often bad, time-consuming and unpredictable.

Another stretch of Skyway Stage 3 over water. (source – Mark Villar Facebook page)

With Skyway Stage 3, travel between SLEX and NLEX will be much faster. It is stated in the press statement that travel from Magallanes to Balintawak will only take about 15 minutes, Balintawak to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) also only 15 minutes, and Valenzuela to Makati in just 10 minutes. As for people from the cities of Muntinlupa, Las Piñas, Parañaque and even further south from Laguna province who need to travel to Subic Bay faster in the near future, imagine going north using the SLEX, then the Skyway (in the south) moving through the metropolis in quick fashion to reach the NLEX thanks to Skyway 3’s stretch and then take the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) to get to Subic Bay faster than ever before. Travelers from Cavite province will also benefit from the improved access and travel too since their province has highways that connect to the SLEX. Really, a lot of people, especially families business people who need to travel within Metro Manila and those who want to go further north or south will really benefit from the eventual operation of Skyway 3 not for just a year but in the years to come.

From this point on, watch out for SMC’s announcement of the formal opening of Skyway 3. Congratulations to SMC and their strategic partners for their accomplishment! Thank the Lord in Heaven also for making big dreams a reality!

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COVID-19 Crisis: New 144-bed ‘We Heal As One’ quarantine facility opens in Muntinlupa City

A new “We Heal As One” quarantine facility for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients and suspect cases in Muntinlupa City was formally opened in Barangay Tunasan yesterday. The 144-bed quarantine facility has been constructed by the Department of Public Works and Highways in partnership with the local government of Muntinlupa.

DPWH Secetary Mark Villar, Department of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, and Mayor Jaime Fresnedi led the blessing ceremony of the emergency quarantine facility amounting to P45-million in Pacwood Site, Brgy. Tunasan.

(L-R) DPWH Secretary Mark Villar, Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi, and DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade inspected the newly constructed “We Heal As One” isolation facility in Pacwood Site, Brgy. Tunasan last October 13. DPWH and Muntinlupa LGU have converted 36 units of shipping containers as isolation rooms for positive COVID-19 patients, suspect and probable cases, and quarters of medical frontliners who will serve in the facility. Each room has a comfort room, air-conditioning unit, and bed supplies. Residents who will occupy the isolation rooms will receive a COVID-19 essentials bag consisting of a hygiene kit, vitamins, medicine, thermometer, bedsheet, pillow blanket, and towels, among others. (source – Muntinlupa PIO)

Fresnedi extended his gratitude to DPWH’s assistance for the construction of the additional isolation facility in the city which he notes as an augmentation in the local COVID-19 response efforts.

Also attending the ceremony were Office of Civil Defense Asec Hernando Caraig Jr., City Administrator Allan Cachuela, City Health Officer Dra. Teresa Tuliao, and CHO Isolation Facility Administrator Dr. Juancho Bunyi.

DPWH and Muntinlupa LGU have converted 36 units of shipping containers as isolation pods for positive COVID-19 patients, suspect and probable cases, and quarters of medical frontliners who will serve in the facility.

Each room has a comfort room, air-conditioning unit, and bed supplies. A wi-fi connection will also be installed in the facility. Residents who will occupy the isolation rooms will receive a COVID-19 essentials bag consisting of a hygiene kit, vitamins, medicine, thermometer, bedsheet, pillow blanket, and towels, among others.

The units.
Inside a unit.
A toiled and sink.

The City Government of Muntinlupa is implementing a mandatory self-isolation policy, or admission to city isolation facilities if requirements for home quarantine are not met as certified by the City Health Office (CHO), for anyone who have undergone COVID-19 swab testing.

The stringent measure aims to restrict movement of suspect cases and prevent possible carriers of the virus to travel and infect other individuals.

During the program, Public Works Sec. Villar reported that an additional quarantine facility with 200-bed capacity will be constructed in the Filinvest Tent Parking Area.

Transportation Sec. Tugade lauded the City Government’s hard work in executing surveillance, isolation, and treatment protocols, and its efforts towards the fight against COVID-19.

Further, he said that the city’s request for the opening of Susana Heights – MCX Access Road has been approved by the DPWH and DOTr and is expected to be accessible by December.

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Latest City Government of Muntinlupa details sourced from their official media release. Some parts were edited for this website.

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Rotary Club Taiwan and Muntinlupa City Government Donate Two Hemodialysis Units to Ospital ng Muntinlupa


(From left to right) Mayor Jaime Fresnedi and Ospital ng Muntinlupa director Dr. Edwin Dimatatac received the donation from Rotary Club of Muntinlupa North IPP Avelet Bautista and Perfect Vision President (PVP) Catherine S. Lopez. (source – Muntinlupa City PIO)

Yesterday, the Rotary Club of Taoyuan North District 3502-Taiwan and Rotary Club of Muntinlupa North District 3830 have donated two hemodialysis units to Ospital ng Muntinlupa. City Mayor Jaime Fresnedi expressed his gratitude to Rotary for the donation and noted it will augment the city’s health services amid the pandemic. Present during the ceremony were Rotary Club of Muntinlupa North IPP Avelet Bautista, Perfect Vision President (PVP) Catherine S. Lopez, Rotary Club of Muntinlupa North PVP Chito Ruiz, KC Costiniano, Ms. Rose Morada and PE Meo Quintana.

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Latest City Government of Muntinlupa details sourced from their official media release. Some parts were edited for this website.

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COVID-19 Crisis: Muntinlupa City Government turns over 2,557 laptops, 28 photocopiers to public school teachers

The City Government of Muntinlupa provided laptops and photocopiers for public school teachers in a bid to help them adapt to distance learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mayor Jaime Fresnedi led a ceremonial turn-over ceremony of the first batch of 2,557 laptops and 28 photocopiers to Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Dominico Idanan and other school principals yesterday.

All Muntinlupa public school teachers in elementary, junior and senior high schools, including school heads, will each receive a brandnew laptop with specifications prescribed by the Department of Education.

Public schools are also set to receive photocopiers to aid in the printing of modules for the distance learning modality being implemented in the “new normal” of education in the country.


Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi (4th from left) leads a ceremonial turn-over ceremony of 2,557 laptops and 28 photocopiers for public school teachers to Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Dominico Idanan (3rd from left) and other school principals last October 8. The local government of Muntinlupa will also provide tablets to public school students in the coming weeks in a bid to help them adapt to distance learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic. (source – Muntinlupa PIO)

“The City Government of Muntinlupa will continue to support our teachers and students to adapt to the changes of the education system, no one will be left behind. We will ensure that everyone can access all kinds of learning modalities whether online or offline,” Fresnedi said.

Further, students who are in need will also receive tablets to help them access online learning resources. The City Government awaits the delivery of the devices to be distributed to the students. Fresnedi added that the city’s scholarship program will continue to be a priority of the City Government.

Muntinlupa Scholarship Program (MSP) acting chief Alvin Veron assured the public of the continuity of the local government’s scholarship program despite academic calendar shift and changes in teaching modalities.

The scholarship program chief said MSP will synchronize its services with the new academic calendar and noted that there will be adjustments with the distribution of allowance. MSP also plans to implement a cashless disbursement of scholarship allowance starting with Senior High School students.

Muntinlupa City offers a comprehensive educational assistance program with over 71,000 scholars in elementary to college, including technical-vocational, graduate, law and medicine schools.

Elementary and alternative learning system students in Muntinlupa receive an allowance of up to P4,000 per year. For junior high school students, the local government provides up to P5,000, while senior high school students receive up to P6,000 per year.

Further, State Universities and Colleges students, including beneficiaries of Continuing Assistance for Reintegrating Students Program, receive a maximum incentive of up to P10,000 per semester depending on their academic performance. Other cash assistance are given to different scholarship categories.

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Latest City Government of Muntinlupa details sourced from their official media release. Some parts were edited for this website.

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COVID-19 Crisis: Muntinlupa City releases zero-interest loan to micro entrepreneurs

The official photo release. (source – Muntinlupa PIO)

Muntinlupa City Mayor Jaime Fresnedi turned over the P1.3 million zero-interest loan assistance to Tulong Negosyo Batch 117 representatives, dubbed as “Muntipreneurs,” last October 6 in a bid to help local businesses recover from the economic disruption brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

70 micro entrepreneurs were provided with the loan assistance this month. Tulong Negosyo caters to MSMEs and provides micro finance assistance which ranges from P2,000 up to P150,000 depending on the business capital ceiling and payment record of beneficiaries. Muntinlupa City is the first LGU to introduce the micro-financing program. Fresnedi vows to continue the program and assist Muntipreneurs especially in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Latest City Government of Muntinlupa details sourced from their official media release. Some parts were edited for this website.

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake newsNO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiaristsNOT to distorted views and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, engagements, commerce and updates, visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

Virtual Job Fair in Muntinlupa Accomplished

The City Government of Muntinlupa, through the Public Employment Service Office, organized a virtual job fair this past October 2 with over 63 job vacancies offered from Southbend Express Services Inc.

Job application and other processes done via computer.

PESO Muntinlupa chief Glenda Zamora-Aniñon said at least 32 job seekers participated in the virtual job fair. Aniñon noted that the city government will continue to launch digital innovations in local employment services to adapt in the “new normal.” Recently, PESO Muntinlupa introduced an online registration system for applicants and virtual learning sessions for job-seekers in the city.

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Latest City Government of Muntinlupa details sourced from their official media release. Some parts were edited for this website.

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake newsNO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiaristsNOT to distorted views and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, engagements, commerce and updates, visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673