In recent years, the local government of Manila, spearheaded by then Mayor Lito Atienza, launched the Buhayin ang Maynila ("Revitalize Manila") project which greatly rehabilitated Quiapo and its vicinities, most especially Plaza Miranda, the Arsenio Lacson Underpass and the University Belt.
In 2000, during the mayorship of Lito Atienza, the stretch from C.M. Recto Avenue to Palanca Street was turned into a pedestrian-only thoroughfare by laying bricks on the road, with the buildings and the LRT painted as part of an urban renewal project.
Ali Atienza – The second Filipino to win a gold medal in the Asian Taekwondo Games and son of former mayor Lito Atienza.
A year later, Manila City officials, including Mayor Lito Atienza, initiated the elevation of CCM to a university to promote higher learning and provide more opportunities to Manila youth for a quality education.
Lito Atienza | Lito Vitale | Lito Lapid | Lito Cruz | Kim Atienza | Lito Pimentel | Lito Legaspi |
In the 2007 election, Mayor of Manila Lito Atienza was barred from seeking a fourth consecutive term; his son Ali was named nominee of the Liberal Party; then senator and former mayor Alfredo Lim was named nominee of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP), Kapayapaan, Kaunlaran at Katarungan, Lim's own party and the United Opposition.