Binay says she’ll be LGU’s voice; other bets vow gov’t reforms

Senatorial candidate and Makati City Mayor Abby Binay promised to speak for local government units and push for better benefits for barangay officials and government employees.

MANILA, Philippines  — Senatorial candidate and Makati Mayor Abby Binay has promised voters that she will speak for local government units (LGUs) should she win in the midterm elections, adding that she will push for better benefits for barangay officials and government employees.

During her visit to Batangas towns of Bauan, Cuenca, and Batangas City on Tuesday, Binay said that part of her priority legislation is the provision of regular salaries and benefits to barangay officials, along with insurance coverage for disaster response workers.

“I will bring my experience as a mayor to the Senate to provide a local perspective when drafting policies and laws that will affect the local government units,” Binay, who is running under the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas banner, told the crowd in Bauan.

Binay was welcomed by Bauan Vice Mayor Ronald Cruzat at the Bauan Municipal Hall.  Part of the local chief executive’s roots can be traced to the municipality, as her grandfather — the father of former vice president Jejomar Binay — comes from Bauan.

Aside from Bauan, Binay also visited Batangas City Mayor Beverly Dimacuha and Cuenca Municipal Mayor Alexander Magpantay, along with both towns’ officials and employees.

Other Alyansa candidates also visited areas in Calabarzon, with former Sen. Manny Pacquiao, Sen. Francis Tolentino, and former Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos campaigning in Bacoor, Cavite, earlier.

All three vowed to advocate for reforms in the government’s programs regarding infrastructure, livelihood, housing, and social services.

“Mga kababayan sa Bacoor, alam ko ang hirap ng buhay—mula sa trapik, kakulangan ng trabaho, pabahay, hanggang sa mataas na gastusin sa ospital. Bilang inyong lingkod, isusulong ko ang mga batas na tutugon sa inyong pangangailangan: dagdag na trabaho, abot-kayang pabahay, mas maayos na transportasyon, at libreng serbisyong medikal,” Pacquiao said.

(My fellow Filipinos in Bacoor, I know the problems in life — from traffic flow, lack of jobs, lack of socialized housing, and the high expenses for hospitalization.  As a public servant, I will push for laws that will address your needs: additional jobs, affordable housing, a more efficient transportation system, and free medical services.)

“Ang kailangan natin ay maayos na transportasyon at konkretong plano para sa urban development. Bilang kampeon ng masa sa senado,  isusulong ko ang modernisasyon ng ating mga daan at transport systems para mapadali ang biyahe at mapabuti ang kalidad ng buhay,” he added.

(What we need is a more efficient transportation system and a concrete plan for urban development.  As a champion of the people in the Senate, I will push for the modernization of our roads and transport systems so that commuting time would be shorter, and for us to improve our quality of life.)

According to Pacquiao, creating jobs is of high importance especially for Bacoor, as it would help the entirety of Cavite to continue its fight against poverty rates — despite having good numbers in Calabarzon.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that poverty incidence in Cavite was at around 6.7 percent — the lowest among the provinces in Calabarzon

“Kailangan din natin ng trabahong may seguridad para sa bawat pamilya. Ang gobyerno ay dapat aktibong tumulong sa maliliit na negosyante at manggagawa,” Pacquiao said.

(We also need jobs with security of tenure for each family.  The government should actively help small businesses and workers.)

Alyansa appears to focus its campaign for the third week of March in Calabarzon, as the entire slate is set to visit Trece Martires, Cavite on March 21, and then San Pedro, Laguna, on March 22.

If these sorties would proceed as scheduled, this would be Alyansa’s 10th and 11th campaign rallies, after the team visited Ilocos Norte, Iloilo, and Davao del Norte for the first week of the campaign period, followed by stops to Pasay City, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, San Jose del Monte in Bulacan, and Camarines Sur.

Alyansa’s most recent stop was in Tacloban, Leyte, where the slate held a rally attended by around 100,000 supporters.

READ: Romualdez vows big win for Alyansa in Leyte

Leyte is considered a bailiwick of the administration, as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s maternal side, from former First Lady Imelda Marcos, hails from the area.