The Rotary Balita no, 778 (August 18, 1955)

A government official and a director of the monetary board were the guest speakers at the regular luncheon-meeting of the Manila Rotary Club last Aug. 4 at the Manila Hotel. Arsenio H. Lacson, mayor of Manila, told Rotarians of the many problems he is encountering as head of the city government but enumerated proofs in support of his contention that his administration "is the best Manila has ever had." "The success of any government rests more on the faith and cooperation of the common citizenry than on constitutions, laws or policemen," Lacson declared, and went on to berate the apathy and indifference to their civic obligations by many citizens. Pointing out to a defect in the charter of the city, which stipulates that the city mayor must accept the budget wholly or reject it en toto, Lacson disclosed that his past vetoes of the proposed budget were justified because "the budget is the product of blackmail and compromise." Lacson also revealed that he has upped the city's yearly income from P29 million to almost P40 million; paid more than P12 million of the P21 million debt of the city; increased the standard of salaries for government employees and rid City Hall of "fixers"; and given the city more roads and streets "than the combined Nolasco-Fugoso-de la Fuente regimes." Dr. Leonides Virata, monetary board member of the Central Bank and authority on economics, spoke lengthily on the role that life insurance companies play in helping the country carry out its program of rehabilitation and economic progress.