Binay begins 2-day campaign in vote-rich Bulacan

BULACAN, Philippines — The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) visits the province of Bulacan, a bailiwick of party standard-bearer Vice President Jejomar Binay.

UNA hopes that the repeated visits to the province of 1.64 million voters will help the party win in the May polls. 

Mara Cepeda reports. 

Vice President Jejomar Binay returns to Bulacan to campaign for two consecutive days. Bulacan is the 6th most vote-rich province in the country and is considered his bailiwick.

In San Rafael, Binay promises to raise the compensation and benefits of barangay officials.

JEJOMAR BINAY, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I will prioritize turning barangay officials into salaried government employees. You will no longer just receive honorarium and allowance. I asked the National Economic and Development Authority why they don’t raise village executives’ pay. We fight every year. Why? Because they don’t want to spend. Savings, savings, savings! My God!

Barangay chairmen only get P1,000 monthly honorarium while councilors get P600. Village executives also receive P1,000 Christmas bonus but are not entitled to 13th month pay. 

He also hits the underspending problem of the Aquino administration.

JEJOMAR BINAY, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I will raise your salary. Where will the money come from? The money will come from the savings.

His ally, former Bulacan governor Obet Pagdanganan, believes the Vice President will again be victorious in the province, where he got over 500,000 votes in 2010 versus the 400,000 votes of then-Liberal Party vice presidential bet Mar Roxas.

OBET PAGDANGANAN, FORMER BULACAN GOVERNOR: Number one, his wife, Dr Binay is from Bulacan. His father is a former vice mayor of Angat. Number two, because of our proximity to Makati. People from Bulacan who studied in Makati know about its scholarship program. If you get sick, they know you can get free medicine from OsMak. They know senior citizens get benefits. So they want the Philippines to experience all of these not only Makati. He helps the poor and fulfills his promises to Filipinos. He can be relied upon and is easy to approach.

It is a sentiment echoed by Bulacan residents.

ANALYN BILLONES, BINAY SUPPORTER: He helps the poor and fulfills his promises to Filipinos. He can be relied upon and is easy to approach.

Binay’s spokesperson Rico Quicho explains this is why UNA repeatedly visits the province. 

RICO QUICHO, BINAY SPOKESMAN: We usually come here to increase political and core support. We are strong here because there are many organizations that continue to trust, love, and support Vice President Jejomar Binay.

The opposition party further claims that the rest of its candidates can expect the same level of support from the people of Bulacan.

UNA seems to be banking on the familiarity of Bulakeños with Binay and his promises to gain a party victory here in the province. In two months time, the election results will tell us if Bulacan will deliver the votes for Binay again.

Mara Cepeda, Rappler, Bulacan

– Rappler.com