Rizal governor backs Abby Binay’s Senate bid

Makati City Mayor Abby Binay

MANILA, Philippines — Rizal Gov. Ricci Ynares endorsed Makati City Mayor Abby Binay’s bid for a Senate seat, citing her leadership as local chief executive.

Ynares officially gave her support to Binay in a meeting with the province’s mayors, congressmen, barangay captains and board members ahead of the Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas’ rally in Antipolo City, a statement from her camp said on Friday.

“Alam naman natin kung gaano kaayos ang Makati. Alam naman namin kung gaano kayo ka-qualified dahil alam namin na kung ano ang nagawa niyo sa Makati ay gagawin niyo rin para sa ating bayan, sa Pilipinas,” Ynares said.

(We know how well-run Makati is. We know how qualified you are because we know that what you did for Makati, you will do for our country, for the Philippines.)

Binay responded by promising to create laws for local government units, particularly barangays.

“I think you need a voice in the Senate na magsasabing, ‘Bigyan naman natin ng importansya at i-professionalize natin ang mga barangay dahil lagi tayong nakatutok sa mayor, lagi tayong nakatutok sa probinsya’,” Binay said.

(I think you need a voice in the Senate that will say, ‘Let’s give importance and professionalize our barangays because we always focus on the mayor, we always focus on the provinces.) 

“Bakit hindi natin tutukan iyong mga barangay? Iyon iyong basic unit na public servant sa atin (Why not focus on the barangays? That’s the basic unit of our public servants),” she added.

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Rizal province has 1,671,643 voters in the 2025 elections.