MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Jejomar Binay continued his courtship of Mindanao voters on Tuesday, February 23, saying he would build a “Malacañang in Mindanao” if elected as president.

Binay made the promise to about 300 people who attended his sortie in Pantao Ragat, Lanao del Norte.

“Pinapangako ko po sa inyo, personal ko pong tutugunan ang mga problema po ninyo sa Mindanao. Ang akin pong balak, katulad po ng aking gagawin sa Cebu, maglalagay po ako ng Malacañang in Cebu, maglalagay din po ng Malacanang dito sa Mindanao,” said the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) standard-bearer.

(I promise to personally address your problems in Mindanao. Like my plan to build a Malacañang in Cebu, I want to put up a Malacañang here in Mindanao as well.) 

Further explaining his plan, Binay added: “Para matunton ko po lahat ng problema niyo, dito po ako magoopisina sa Mindanao….Ang mga local governments will experience the true meaning of decentralization and devolution. Gagawin ko po yan, ‘yung local autonomy.”

(To determine all your problems here, I will have an office in here in Mindanao….The local govenrments will experience the true meaning of decentralization and devolution. I will push for local autonomy.)

With his latest campaign promise, a Binay administration will have a Malacañang in every major island group in the country – the existing one in Manila, one in the Visayas, and another one in Mindanao.

Binay earlier told Cebuanos that he would reopen Malacañang sa Sugbo – first established by then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2004 as the official residence of the Philippine president in the Visayas – as a point of access for people in the region to reach the president. 

Empowering local government units nationwide and increasing their Internal Revenue Allotment are included in Binay’s platform of pro-poor governance and inclusive growth.

Binay had earlier vowed to complete the expansion of the Laguindingan Airport, a solution to the region’s electricity woes, and turning Mindanao into the country’s food basket. 

On Monday, he told a crowd in Iligan City that his presidency would pave the way for peace in Mindanao.

Binay also advised residents there to accept politicians’ monetary bribes but vote for their candidates of choice instead, like him and running mate Senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan II.

The Vice President held sorties around Misamis Oriental and Lanao del Norte following the first presidential debate in Capitol University. Analysts assessed that Binay’s performance during the debate was “lackluster,” though his camp thinks otherwise.

In his Mindanao sorties, the Vice President was accompanied by Honasan and UNA senatorial bets Sulu Princess Jacel Kiram, Parañaque City councilor Alma Moreno, labor lawyer Allan Montaño, former Special Action Force Getulio Napeñas, and broadcaster Rey Langit. – Rappler.com