So you want to be president? A close look at those who want to lead

MANILA, Philippines – To help voters make an informed choice in May, The Philippine STAR is conducting interviews with the presidential aspirants, in no particular order, depending on their availability in the heat of the campaign.

Meetings are hosted by The STAR in the newspaper’s office, with the editorial staff asking the candidates questions on a wide range of issues.

The recorded answers, portions of which can be viewed online, can be used as reference for campaign promises met or unfulfilled, goals achieved or changed.

To cover as many topics as possible, the candidates are requested to keep their answers brief, but three hours is still not enough to cover a presidential aspirant’s program of government. Space limitations also compel The STAR to condense the answers for publication. Still, even the brief answers provide useful glimpses into the platforms and plans of each candidate in case of victory.

Jejomar Cabauatan Binay ‘Jojo’

Party: United Nationalist Alliance Campaign Slogan: Ginhawa Sa Buhay  Ng Bawat Pilipino, Binay Hindi Bala•

Born Nov. 11, 1942 in Paco, Manila

• Married to Elenita Sombillo Binay (Obstetrics and Gynecology doctor)

•  Children: Ma. Lourdes Nancy B. Angeles (Senator, 16th Congress), Mar-Len Abigail B. Campos (Representative, Second District of Makati), Jejomar Erwin S. Binay Jr., Marita Angeline B. Alcantara, Joanna Marie Bianca S. Binay

•  Parents: Diego Binay (library clerk) and Lourdes Cabauatan (public grade school teacher)

•  Residence: 8514 Caong street, San Antonio Village, Makati City

•  Religion: Roman Catholic

Campaign Platform:

My principles of governance, my priorities as a public servant, and my vision for our country have been molded by my personal experiences. Should Filipinos decide to have me as their leader, I will ensure that just like in Makati, everyone will benefit from whatever development our country would attain. No one will be left behind.

Educational Attainment

Elementary: Philippine Normal College Training Department

Secondary: University of the Philippines Preparatory High School

Collegiate Course: UP, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science

Graduate Courses

UP, Bachelor of Laws

UP, Masters in Public Administration, Major in Local Government Management (academically completed)

University of Santo Tomas, Master of Laws (academically completed)

National Defense College of the Philippines, Master in National Security Administration (graduated with honors)

Philippine Christian University, Masters in Management

UP-Open University, diploma in Environment and Natural Resources Management

The Wharton School – University of Pennsylvania, Housing Finance in a Changing Global Environment

Harvard Kennedy School – Executive Education, Senior Executives in National and International Security

Jobs/Positions Held

• Claims examiner (Insular Life Insurance Co.); lawyer (Binay, Cueva and Associates); law lecturer / professor (St. Catherine’s School of Nursing, Philippine College of Commerce, Philippine Women’s University, St. Scholastica’s College, National Defense College of the Philippines)

• Mayor (Makati); director, MWSS; board member, LRTA; chairman, Metro Manila Peace and Order Council; commanding officer (202nd Philippine Marine Reserve Battalion; chairman MMDA; chairman, Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council; presidential adviser on OFW concerns; chairman emeritus (IACAT), vice president

Academic/Civic/Other Honors

• Ninoy Aquino Medal of Valor in 2014 for outstanding service as human rights lawyer/advocate during martial law and for defending democracy during coup attempts against Corazon Aquino

• Recipient of numerous awards for academic excellence and as outstanding alumnus from UP and other institutions, for leadership and distinguished service as a local government executive, from the Boy Scouts of the Philippines and Knights of Rizal

Net Worth: P60,250,983.00

Investments/Companies: Blooms & Bouquet Flower Shop (Dr. Elenita Binay as sole proprietor)

Consolidated Total Taxes Paid By Spouses Binay (2010 to 2014):

2014: P370,453

2013: P372,897

2012: P319,941.27

2011: P385,949.62

2010: P1,494,293.72

Top Campaign Supporters: I will declare when the time comes.

Campaign Manager: Secret, but we do have a campaign manager.

Media Manager: Joey Salgado

Key Advisers: Secret

Little President: Secret

Role Of Spouse: She likes gardening, landscaping. She will surely beautify Malacañang

Short-term priorities

I will immediately initiate dialogues with all sectors, especially Congress and the judiciary. I will start the quest for lasting peace in Mindanao, which in turn will improve the economy and address the issue of poverty (in the south). My first executive order will institutionalize freedom of information in the executive branch.

Long-term priorities

Infrastructure, particularly airports, seaports, roads and bridges. Spending on infrastructure will help employment. After the completion of the projects, they can help our country, especially in tourism. We will also address the problem of unemployment and underemployment by improving the agriculture, manufacturing, export, trade, BPO and tourism sectors.

How will you deal with the following:

Peace process with the MILF

The BBL can be used as a working paper so we won’t start from zero. We will correct provisions that might appear to be unconstitutional and ensure the involvement of stakeholders.

Peace process with the CPP-NDF

I am willing to negotiate, hopefully with the ideological group of (Jose Maria Sison).

Terrorism by Abu Sayyaf, JI, ISIS

FVR was right, that terror threats are rooted in social and economic problems. But we will also be tough in pursuing these terrorists.

Criminality

I can take pride in telling you that in (Makati), peace and order and drugs are not our problems, because maganda ang buhay (life is good). Kapag maganda ang buhay, mababa ang crime incidence.

Jueteng

It is legalized actually, through small-town lottery. We will review reports that government does not get its fair share from STL revenues.

Climate change

I will start by forming a separate Department of Environment. We have to be ready for the effects of climate change… we need a Cabinet member who is competent.

Coal-fired plants

We have to ratify what had been agreed upon in Paris. Coal is cheap, but up to what extent are we going to allow coal plants to operate? If we allow them, we make sure they comply with the Paris agreement.

Binay chats with his runningmate Sen.Gregorio Honasan

Plans for the following:

Curbing corruption

I will put my appointed officials as spies to report the irregularities in their offices or agencies. It is about party discipline, party members as models in the government.

Cutting red tape

Put a competent head in the agency who will be a good model in trying to solve the problem. We all have (campaign) platforms. What we need is someone who has the ability and experience to enforce.

Solving Metro Manila traffic

Basically, the solution is what I call the 3Es: education, enforcement and engineering. Education to inform the public of the rules; enforcement to make sure that these rules are followed; and then engineering to provide the infrastructure requirements.

Resolving the MRT mess

We will make right what they did wrong. Again, executive ability is needed. The service-oriented offices in government should be lessened and turned over to the private sector. Here in the Philippines, when you talk of efficiency and effectiveness, it is always the private sector.

NAIA problems

We need to study if we need to open up another airport or what we must do with NAIA. Should we just improve it? Clark can be used more. But we need to manage the NAIA better.

Manila port congestion

Decentralize; make full use of the Batangas and Subic ports.

Inadequate infrastructure

Feeder roads will get priority. (Refer to long-term priorities in infrastructure)

High power costs and unreliable supply; policy on green energy

We will address the high taxes and slow procedures for setting up power plants that result in high power costs. We will have a long-term plan to ensure that the country is ready to provide for the needs in the next 10 to 15 years. On green energy, we will strengthen this as we are rich in alternative energy sources, particularly geothermal.

Interconnectivity and telecom services

We saw during APEC that it is possible to have faster connectivity and transmission. I want to make the use of computers widespread in the entire Philippines.

High health care costs

I do not want to just lower the costs, I will make sure that medicines, hospitalization for the poor are free. PhilHealth coverage will include consultations and not just confinement. Health centers with complete facilities in every barangay will be established. Every center will have barangay health workers, who will receive higher salaries.

Weak rule of law and inefficient judiciary

The judiciary is an independent branch, so we can only suggest. For me, it lies in the management of the courts. The supervision should be further strengthened. I will ensure that the people I will appoint to the Supreme Court have extensive experience in the practice of law, those who already have the wisdom.

Positions on:

Charter change: Favors Cha-cha for economic provisions, notably the 60-40 ratio of foreign and local equity and land ownership. Against political amendments and clipping judicial powers.

EDCA: I support EDCA because when China bullied us, we realized that it was good that we had the support of the US as well as Japan when we had these problems.

Philippines’ maritime claims, international arbitration: I will be persistent in claiming our ownership. Sovereignty is non-negotiable.

Reproductive Health Law: I was against it. But it’s now a law and there are already some qualifications in it.

Income tax cut: Those earning P30,000 and below per month will no longer have income taxes. To recover the revenue losses because of this policy, compensatory measures such as effective tax collection and curbing of smuggling of agricultural products will be implemented.

Role of the Church / religious groups: Have you sought the support of Iglesia ni Cristo, El Shaddai and other religious groups? On Iglesia ni Cristo, secret because of present conditions. On El Shaddai, I have been invited to some of their gatherings. They have no announcement yet, but I suppose they will help me.

Patronage: Will you give government posts to those who helped you in your campaign? I will be fair and square.

What is the state of the nation you are inheriting at noon of June 30?

Can I just say that I will give the present administration a failing grade in the management of our country?  I’ll give him a 4 (on a scale of 1-10).

What are the country’s biggest problems?

Number one is poverty and its concomitant effects like criminality.

How do you see the country at the end of your term?

Umangat ang buhay ng bawat Pilipino (The life of every Filipino is uplifted)

State Of Health

One of the documents I brought to the Cebu debate is a certification from my doctors that I am in the pink of health. I underwent a lot of examinations. My cholesterol and blood sugar levels are a bit high, but it is not a problem because I exercise every day.

Have you ever consulted a psychiatrist? No

How will you:

Encourage investments that will create jobs and bring home OFWs?

Aside from economic Cha-cha, we must encourage our businessmen to invest in agriculture, manufacturing, trade, tourism and export. Also, we must devote a bank for lending and investment of OFWs. We must ensure that OFWs will leave not because of necessity.

Spur growth so we can catch up with our ASEAN neighbors?

Supposedly we are the fastest-growing economy, so we will just do it better. But we must also promote inclusive growth.

Reduce poverty?

We will maximize employment opportunities because the number one problem in poverty is unemployment.

Improve the quality of education?

Maximize space so that more children can go to school and study, but reduce class size.

On K-12: It is a good concept, but a lot of criticisms surround it. Though I have to get more information about it, I remember an interview saying that we should not implement K-12 immediately and instead add more vocational schools in the meantime.

Cut red tape and make it easier to do business in the country?

Review all the procedures for reforms. Automate, computerize (transactions).

Promote tourism?

The government must provide the necessary infrastructure. Also talk with private players in the industry on how to reduce prices (of their services and goods).

Boost agriculture?

I will modernize agriculture, there are so many ways… I will remove irrigation fees. I am also looking at banks, which are currently limited to lending to the agriculture sector at only 20 percent. We also need intensive research on high-yield crops.

What is your take on agrarian reform?

The concept is nice, which is to make our lands more productive and the tenants will be owners, which we have already implemented. But we failed on the second part. We need to subsidize the farmers’ needs, like fertilizers and seeds.

Why do you deserve to win ?

1. (Among the aspirants), I have the widest experience as an executive in the Republic of the Philippines.

2. I’ve been competent in the jobs that I have handled.

3. I am the only one who has experienced poverty first hand. I will always think about uplifting the lives of the poor because I know what they feel. I have not heard about poverty, I have not read about poverty, I have experienced poverty.

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