EDITORIAL - Can Binay deliver the goods?

The first salvo for the next elections was fired last week when Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay beat all humored presidential contenders in announcing his candidacy for the 2010 presidential elections.      

During his 66th birthday celebrations last Tuesday, Binay, the head of the United Opposition, declared that he is running for the highest post in the land. In Metro Cebu, Binay's supporters gathered at the Mandaue City reclamation area in support of his declaration.    

But his presidential ambitions will only push through if former president Joseph Estrada will not run. Binay said as a good follower, he would run only with the blessings of the deposed president.

Binay's declaration to run for president in 2010 is no longer surprising. Several months ago, he has been crisscrossing the country in search of the pulse of the masses for his presidential ambitions.

As a last-termer mayor, his grip of the country's hub of commerce will come to an end in the next few months. So he has no other recourse except to set sights on the presidency since he has the managerial expertise which he could never use in the House of Representatives or the Senate.

Well, it cannot be denied that Binay perfectly handled Makati City's development. Its unprecedented growth only gave proof to his skillful guidance and superior hands-on style of leadership. 

In his more than 20 years of leadership, Makati City has evolved from a small town that was home to only few wealthy Filipinos such as the Ayalas and Concepcions into being host to hundreds of multinational corporations, making it the heart and soul of the modern Philippines.  

But Makati City's success does not necessarily translate into the Philippine's eventual economic prosperity under a Binay presidency. The good mayor has yet to prove to the Filipinos he has the means to carry them out of poverty. His city is still teeming with thousands of squatter families.

Binay must be aware of the fact that running a city is naturally different from running a whole country. His successful management of Makati City may be worthy of emulation to other chief executives but that does not mean he is the miracle we have been waiting for.   

We are not saying Binay is only good for Makati City. He can be a fine president. But only if he has what it takes to be a competent leader of this impoverished country.