MMDA chairman Danny Lim dies after contracting COVID-19

Danny Lim left a positive impact on MMDA. PHOTO FROM DANNY LIM

Brigadier General Danilo Lim may not have been the most visible official of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, but it’s obvious he was the most beloved—as shown by the praises showered upon the man as news of his demise appeared on social media this morning. The MMDA chairman, who was assigned to the post in 2017, died early today after having contracted the COVID-19 virus, which he himself divulged on his Facebook page on December 29, 2020. It is still unclear if the cause of his death is directly related to the virus.

He was 65 years old.

The picture Lim used to share his COVID-19 test result. PHOTO FROM DANNY LIM

Here is Lim’s post announcing his sickness:

Magmula noong ECQ ay regular pa ring pumapasok ang inyong lingkod dahil hindi pwedeng maantala ang serbisyo na binibigay ng MMDA sa kalakhang Maynila. Isa din ang ating ahensiya sa mga frontliners sa ating laban sa COVID-19. Kagabi, matapos kong sumailalim sa routine swab test, nakuha ko na ang results at lumabas na positive ako sa COVID-19 sa kabila ng palaging pag-iingat at pagsunod nang maigi sa mga health protocols sa lahat ng pagkakataon. Pinapakita lang nito kung gaano katindi ang COVID-19 at lahat ay pwedeng tamaan. Nagpapasalamat ako nang lubos dahil ang aking maybahay at anak ay negative sa test. Bunga ito ng mahigpit din na pag-observe namin ng health protocols kahit sa bahay. Nananatiling mild ang aking mga sintomas at sinusunod ko ang payo ng aming doktor para maalagaan ko ang aking kalusugan ngayon. I will continue to self-isolate for now. Agad ko rin sinabihan ang lahat ng mga taong may close contact sa akin nitong nakaraang linggo na i-monitor ang kanilang mga sarili at mag self-isolate na nang 14 days.

Sa kabila nito, tulad ng ginagawa ko ngayong araw, patuloy akong magtratrabaho remotely at magsasagawa ng mga meetings via teleconference para masigurong hindi maaantala ang anumang mga operasyon sa opisina na kailangan sa panahon ngayon.

Patuloy na mag-ingat ang lahat at bigyang prayoridad ang inyong kalusugan. Sumunod tayo palagi sa health protocols para mapangalagaan ang ating mga sarili pati ang mga nasa paligid natin.

Danny Lim was universally respected in spite (or because) of his involvement in protests that challenged corrupt leadership. He was a prominent figure in the 2007 Manila Peninsula siege in which he joined Antonio Trillanes IV and other military officers as they stood up against then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Salute, good sir.