Practical laws still needed in Congress — Abby Binay

MANILA, Philippines — Many laws may have been passed in Congress but senatorial candidate and Makati Mayor Abby Binay believes there is still a need to come up with practical bills or “common-sense” laws that would echo the people’s sentiments.

Binay, in a statement on Wednesday, said there is a need for a pragmatic approach to lawmaking because while there are many laws that carry good intentions, implementation often fails due to lack of funding and foresight.

Binay cited as an example the requirement for local government units (LGUs) to shoulder the funding for financial assistance programs without a locale’s fiscal capacity.

“There’s often a disconnect when senators craft legislation without consulting the grassroots,” said Binay, who is running under the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas ticket.

“It is crucial to have someone coming from a local perspective. We have laws that work really well on paper, but implementation-wise, it’s not happening. For example, in Makati, when we pass an ordinance giving benefits, we make sure that there is money, it is sustainable,” she added.

Should she be elected to the Senate, Binay said she would ensure that proposed national policies would have sufficient support like funding before these bills are passed, to avoid unnecessary burden on LGUs.

“So, that’s what I mean by being the voice of reason;  being the voice that says ‘that’s doable, that’s not doable’,” Binay said.  “You think it’s common sense, but I realize that common sense is not very common.”

Aside from these bills, Binay previously said that she would champion the institutionalization of tax exemption for employees’ 13th month pay, and the provision of free maintenance medicines for senior citizens.

READ: Alyansa to push bank secrecy waiver, 14th month pay for all if elected https://www.inquirer.net/428370/alyansa-to-push-bank-secrecy-waiver-14th-month-pay-for-all-if-elected

During her term as mayor of Makati, Binay has implemented different financial aid programs for its residents. However, Binay also admitted that it would not be as easy for smaller LGUs to implement this, which led to Makati’s allocation of P51 million, to serve as assistance to other cities and municipalities affected by typhoons, flooding, and volcanic eruptions in 2024.

According to Binay, the amount covered 83 disaster-hit LGUs — with P21.75 million designated to 34 LGUs heavily impacted by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine, while P3.5 million was allocated for six LGUs affected by Super Typhoon Julian.

READ: Makati to give P51 million aid to LGUs hit by disasters https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2001841/makati-to-give-p51-million-aid-to-lgus-hit-by-disasters

In 2023, Makati also released P19-million worth of cash assistance to its 39 “sister” local government units.

Should Binay win as senator, she will be the second from her family to enter the Senate, after her sister, Sen. Nancy Binay. Sen. Binay is now running for mayor of Makati City, a post held currently held by her sister Abby.