(UPDATE) FORMER Marikina City mayor and Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Bayani Fernando died after falling from the roof of his house on Friday. He was 77.
His wife, former Marikina City mayor Ma. Lourdes “Marides” Fernando, confirmed the passing of the former government official on Super Radyo DZBB.
Earlier reports indicated that the former lawmaker died at the Quirino Memorial Hospital after he was rushed by members of the Rescue 161 Marikina. Many of his supporters were seen gathering at the hospital.
Photo From PNA
The Marikina City government sent condolences to his family, in a Facebook post from their public information office.
Among those who mourned his passing is Marikina City 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo.
“We are in mourning with the Fernando family and the city of Marikina,” she wrote in Filipino.
“Your legacy in Marikina will remain forever,” Quimbo added. “Thank you, BF, the Father of Modern Marikina, for your service.” Also, the Local Government Marikina City led by incumbent Mayor Marcy Teodoro expressed condolences to the Fernando family.
“Taus-pusong pakikiramay sa pamilya at mga mahal sa buhay ni Mayor BF,” a statement from the Marikina Public Information Office stated. Also, the MMDA said it was “deeply saddened and shocked” by the death of its former chairman.
“Under his helm, he put the MMDA in the spotlight. He was the person behind rapid bus lanes and the ‘Metro Gwapo’ campaign transforming the region into a livable metropolis,” the MMDA said.
“A man of few words, Fernando is known to be a workaholic and a disciplinarian among MMDA employees,” it said. Moreover, the MMDA said Fernando, a mechanical engineer by profession, “used scientific and practical approaches in his quest to solve the problems of Metro Manila.” “Thank you very much for your contributions. Rest now, Sir, for you already got the job done,” they added.
Fernando is survived by Marides and daughter Tala Fernando-Ang.
Bayani Fernando was born on July 25, 1946 in San Juan City. He served as mayor of Marikina City from 1992 to 2001, and while serving as MMDA chairman from 2002 to 2009, also served as secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways in 2003.
He ran for vice president in the 2010 national elections, under the ticket of then-senator Richard Gordon. In 2016, he was elected representative for the first district of Marikina, which he served from 2016 to 2022.
