SUMMARY
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ISABELA, Philippines – While the almost 1-kilometer convoy of Vice President Jejomar Binay was running through the roads of Isabela, residents – not only the victims of the onslaught of Typhoon Lando (Koppu) – went out and cheered for the one they considered their “pride.”
Isabela, after all, is the Vice President’s home province. His mother is a native of Cabagan town.
When Binay visited on Thursday, October 22, and promised to send hybrid rice seedlings as immediate aid to farmers, he made it clear he wasn’t campaigning. It seems he didn’t need to.
In the places where he went, accompanied by Vice Governor Tonypet Albano, he was greeted by loud cheers and chants of “Binay for President!”
In 2010, he topped the vice presidential race here, leading second place Manuel Roxas II by 200,000 votes – his second biggest win against Roxas next to vote-rich Laguna.
Reunion, reminiscing with old place
During his more than hour stop in his hometown of Cabagan, elders hugged him. Some even cried, happy to see their kababayan (townmate).
From the house of Vice Governor Albano, Binay walked to the house where he grew up. A woman in her 70s immediately ran to Binay. Their hugged tight.
He talked to street vendors, even buying their wares. He occasionally stopped when students asked to have a selfie with him, while bystanders on the road cheered him.
Before leaving Cabagan, Binay stopped at an old church, where he said he used to attend mass as a little boy.
Relief distribution
Binay conducted an aerial inspection before visiting the affected towns of Isabela.
Accompanied by local officials in the province, Binay distributed relief goods to flood-hit towns of San Pablo, Cabagan, and San Mateo, and in the city of Ilagan.
He said he would also help in the recovery of farmers, whose crops were damaged twice – by the drought, and now by the flood.
He promised to give residents hybrid rice seedlings to replace damaged crops.
In an interview with local radio Bombo Radyo-Cauayan on Friday, October 23, Binay said he wanted to push for reform in crop insurance, a policy that addresses only production and yield losses due to floods, drought, and pest infestation.
He said, however, farmers need an alternative aid sooner.
Isabela Governor Faustino Dy III thanked Binay for visiting the typhoon victims. He said the Vice President is an inspiration to Isabela to work for progress and stand on its feet.
Vice Governor Albano said the province had been placed under state of calamity since Wednesday. He noted initial assessments of P400 million worth of damage to agriculture.
Binay praised the provincial government for again achieving a zero casualty record.
Form of campaigning?
Asked if his promise was a form of campaigning, Binay said he was there to help the victims. He told reporters in Cabagan that, to critics, nothing he does is right.
He added that during disasters, he is, most of the time, the first key government official to respond to the needs of the victims.
“Ako ay nakilala na, nabansagan na ako, na kapag mayro’ng disaster, ‘pag may kailangan…hindi ba tayo ang unang-unang pumupunta dun? So image ko na ‘yun,” Binay said.
(I am already known, in fact already tagged, as the first to bring needed relief during disasters. That’s already an image they attach to me.) – Rappler.com
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