User:Jayfajardo/Ismael Mathay, Jr.

Ismael A. Mathay, Jr. is a former mayor of Quezon City (May 11, 1992 – June 30,2001)

Ismael A. Mathay was born in Manila on June 26, 1932. He graduated in 1953 with Bachelors Degree in Business Administration Major in Economics. Soon after graduation he enrolled at the San Beda College of Law and successfully passed the bar examination in 1957. He was elected Vice-Mayor of Quezon City in 1967. In 1972 he was appointed secretary to the commissioner of the watchdog General Authority Office,a genuine recognition for his talent and integrity. Mayor Ismael Mathay had completed tenure of 9 years.

Political record

Throughout his political career, MEL MATHAY, has not only shown experience but the ability to communicate and show true concern for the people he serves. With a distinguished record of government service: in local government as Vice Mayor and a three-term Mayor of Quezon City; in the legistlative as assemblyman and congressman of Quezon City’s 4th District and as Vice Governor of Metro Manila and Chairman of the Metro Manila Authority, his legacies are unequalled, achievements of enduring character and integrity benefitting not only the City of Quezon and its people today but onwards toward the future.

Campaign against increased taxation

As Congressman of the 4th District and during his campaign for Mayor of Quezon City in 1992, MEL MATHAY fought against the projected 300% increase in real estate assessment in Quezon City. The tax increase was aborted as a TRO was obtained from the Supreme Court, signed by the late Chief Justice Marcelo Fernan, on the grounds that it was excessive, arbitrary and unconscionable.

During MAYOR MEL MATHAY’S first term in office, there was no increase in taxes in Quezon City. Efforts were made to use whatever resources where available.

Fiscal achievements as Mayor

For the first time the Local Government Code allowed borrowing of funds, and MEL MATHAY auhorized a loan for the Quezon City government which was obtained at the lowest prevailing interest rate from the Philippine National Bank based on the city’s strong financial statement and revenue potential. Funds from this loan were then used for basic services, the construction of 80 school buildings and 1,500 classrooms, the repair and construction of road networks , health centers, multi -purpose covered courts and street lighting. In addition, MAYOR MATHAY worked to totally renovate the Quezon City Hall which had been badly damaged from a disastrous fire in 1989 and had only four floors that were usable, upon MAYOR MATHAY’s assumption into office in 1992. At current costs, it would take more than P2billion to accomplish and meet all of these requirements.

Infrastructure projects

First Rail Based Mass Transit from Bonifacio Monument (Grace Park) to Baclaran

When he was Vice Governor of Metro Manila he was instrumental in pursuing the completion of the first rail base mass transit (LRT 1) from Bonifacio Monument (Grace Park) to Baclaran. There was aggressive, strong objection to the project from jeepney drivers and operators on their claim that they would lose their only livelihood; even threatening that “blood would flow” if the project was to push through. Through a series of dialogues and consultations, MEL MATHAY assured the jeepney drivers and operators that whatever happens they will not lose their livelihood because the expanding Metro Manila population cannot all be accommodated in LRT 1. They finally agreed to the project. Today, more than 25 years later, the jeeps still run the Monumento-Baclaran route.

MRT 2 and MRT 3

The connection of MRT 2 to MRT 3 to Marcos Highway (Marikina) passing through Aurora Boulevard, QC was fully supported by him during his term as the Mayor of Quezon City. This enabled the portion from Marcos Highway to Anonas to be built underground which resulted in easing the flow of traffic in the area.

The clearing of the North Triangle area from thousands of informal settlers and their relocation, at great risk to MAYOR MEL MATHAY’s political career, led to the development of the MRT 3 Depot Station and what is today, Trinoma, which has provided employment to thousands and expanded the city’s revenue base.

With LRT 1 plus the ongoing construction connecting MRT 3 at EDSA/North Avenue and the existing connection of MRT 2 to MRT 3 which runs all the way to Baclaran, you will have a mass transit that would be moving almost 1 million passengers per day due to the interconnection. MEL MATHAY was instrumental in the continuation of C5 from Katipunan/ Escopa through a flyover towards Katipunan /Ateneo which was realigned after having a series of dialogues with the Sisters of Sta. Clara wherein the sisters agreed to relocate their convent to its present site. This resulted in the straight alignment of the flyover.

Mindanao Avenue extension

Mindanao Avenue, which upon assumption of MEL MATHAY to his first term as Mayor was only up to Project 6 and Barangay PagAsa, was extended up to Congressional Avenue and later on up to beyond Quirino Avenue. Today, this is being extended all the way to the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and the Malinta/Valenzuela Interchange and has been designated as the realigned C5, which has been stuck behind UP. Providing a much needed alternate route to the North Luzon Expressway.

Quezon City business and economic development

Mayor MEL MATHAY was the lynch pin to change the land use of the area known today as EASTWOOD CITY, the first business cyber center and a benchmark model of development in Metro Manila, from industrial to commercial and residential. Mayor Mathay pushed for the development and provided all the necessary support to Megaworld to facilitate the Eastwood City Development.

MAYOR MEL MATHAY upheld the ownership of the University of the Philippines (UP) from a syndicate who laid claim to certain parcels of the university along Commonwealth Ave. through a falsified and fake Transfer Certificate of Title, obtained when all records of the City’s Registry of Deeds were destroyed during the fire at Quezon City Hall in 1989. MEL MATHAY, as Mayor of Quezon City and concurrent Metro Manila Authority Chairman prevented the takeover , notwithstanding a police contingent supporting the takeover of the property in an attempt to build a fence over the claimed area. This area is where you now have the UP Ayalaland Techno Hub, a joint venture with Ayala Corp. It was MEL MATHAY’s mission during his three terms as Mayor of Quezon City to preserve and protect the University’s original campus of 500 hectares in behalf of his Alma Mater.

MAYOR MEL MATHAY also supported the development of North Fairview with the entry of two major commercial business institutions SM North Fairview and Robinsons malls, with patronage extending all the way to Caloocan and Bulacan. This has resulted in a huge revenue enhancement for the city along with the establishment of more business enterprises in the area.

Housing

Through the efforts of MAYOR MEL MATHAY, the Quezon City government acquired land which was eventually bought by PHINMA and through a joint venture built the SMILE Cityhomes with 5-storey socialized housing of 1,500 units. To settle a violent conflict between informal settlers and the landowner, Mayor Mathay managed to convince the owners to sell their property in order to accommodate and set up the Sitio Mendez Habitat for Humanity project, providing homes to 450 residential beneficiaries. A predecessor of Gawad Kalinga, the homes were built by the residents themselves with the help of Habitat for Humanity.

References

• Official History of Quezon City

External links

• melmathay.com