Palace extends condolences to family of MMDA chief Danilo Lim

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque issued a statement after MMDA Spokesperson Celine Pialago confirmed Lim’s death in a Viber message to reporters. (PCOO file photo)

MANILA – Malacañang on Wednesday extended sympathy over the passing of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chair Danilo “Danny” Lim who died of a heart attack.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque issued a statement after MMDA Spokesperson Celine Pialago confirmed Lim’s death in a Viber message to reporters.

“The Palace expresses its deep condolences to the family, loved ones and colleagues of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Danilo Lim who died before 8 a.m. this morning at the age of 65,” Roque said.

He said the Palace will remember Lim for the public service he rendered during the Duterte administration.

“MMDA Chair Lim served the Duterte Administration with professionalism, competence and integrity. He would be dearly missed,” he said.

“May the perpetual light shine upon him, and may his soul, through the mercy of the Almighty, rest in eternal peace,” he added.

In a Facebook post, MMDA’s Edsa traffic chief Edison “Bong” Nebrija bid farewell to the MMDA Chair.

“Farewell my brother tonight, farewell,” Nebrija said.

Esteemed leader

Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the country lost an esteemed leader with the death of Lim.

“With the passing of General Lim, the country lost an esteemed leader, who valued public service above all else. His vision, which he carried through from his beginnings as a young officer in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to his later years as a civilian public servant, was to uphold good governance and lead by example,” he added.

Lorenzana said the DND also condoles with the family and loved ones of the late MMDA chief.

“A member of Philippine Military (PMA) Class of 1978, General Lim took the helm of the MMDA with his appointment in 2017 and oversaw the agency’s front-line response to the (coronavirus disease 2019) Covid-19 pandemic for the majority of the year 2020,” he added.

As chairperson of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and the National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19, Lorenzana said he is grateful for Lim’s support to their various inter-agency emergency response operations through the years.

“I also convey my sympathies to General Lim’s loved ones and his colleagues at the MMDA. May he rest in peace,” he added.

Last Dec. 29, Lim announced in a Facebook post that he tested positive for coronavirus disease (Covid-19) “despite all the health precautions” he observed.

He said he informed his direct contacts for the last week to monitor for symptoms and self-isolate for 14 days.

Lim, a retired military officer, was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte as MMDA Chair in May 2017.

He was among the former military officers appointed by the President to various posts in the government.

Before he was appointed MMDA Chair, he served as deputy commissioner of the Bureau of Customs during the term of President Benigno Aquino III. (with reports from Priam Nepomuceno/PNA)