Binay vows decisive leadership

MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Jejomar Binay kicked off yesterday his campaign for the 2016 presidential elections in a large slum area in Mandaluyong City, vowing to provide decisive leadership that will secure the nation and truly prioritize the poor.

Wearing dark blue jeans and a blue polo shirt, Binay arrived at the Welfareville compound in Mandaluyong City at 4:45 p.m. Blue is Binay’s campaign color.

The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) standard bearer appeared to be in a fighting mood when he stepped on stage to join his running mate Sen. Gregorio Honasan II and nine of UNA’s senatorial candidates, led by boxing champion Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao.

Around 20,000 Binay supporters, mostly from Mandaluyong and Makati City, attended the opposition party’s proclamation rally held on Nueve de Pebrero Street.

At around 7:30 p.m., Binay began his speech by acknowledging his fellow UNA candidates, allies, local candidates and thousands in the audience whom he referred to as his fellow nognog (dark complexioned).

Binay hits Noy

Binay took the opportunity to hit President Aquino and his administration for failing to curb poverty incidence in the country in the last six years.

“The President’s term nears its end, but instead of reducing the country’s poverty rate, more people became poor under his administration,” he said.

He noted that unemployed Filipinos also grew despite the government’s repeated claim of economic improvement under its slogan of tuwid na daan (straight path).

He stressed that the country needs a president who never blames other people at times of crisis, citing in particular the Mamasapano debacle, which left 44 police commandos dead on Jan. 25, 2015.

Promises

In his 30-minute speech, Binay also promised to provide additional P65 billion in the budget of the education department so it can provide free books, uniforms and other school supplies to almost 20 million public school students.

He vowed to work with local governments and the private sector in providing free healthcare, especially to the poor.

Binay also reiterated his commitment to continue the government’s conditional cash transfer program, which was started during the presidency of now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“We will not only continue it, we will also expand it to include 60 to 64 years old and many of our citizens in the list of program beneficiaries,” he said.

The Vice President likewise vowed to exempt workers who receive monthly salary of P30,000 and below from paying taxes. – With Janvic Mateo, Non Alquitran