Binay strategy: Campaign ‘til last hour

MANILA, Philippines – With just a week before the elections, opposition presidential bet Vice President Jejomar Binay intends to campaign until the last hour even as he reiterated his confidence that he will win the presidential race.

“Campaign and campaign and campaign until the last hour,” Binay said when asked how he intends to spend the last week before the May 9 polls.

Binay, standard bearer of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), yesterday went to an assembly of barangay executives in Quezon before holding a motorcade in Rizal. He is scheduled to visit Bataan today.

From being the frontrunner a year before the start of the campaign period, Binay now ranks fourth among candidates for president in the latest pre-electoral surveys.

But the Vice President said he is still confident that he would beat his rivals.

He noted that he would get the support of the “Solid North” as well as the votes from Central Luzon, which he visited on Friday.

UNA recently suffered a setback after the Remullas of Cavite reportedly defected to the camp of presidential frontrunner Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

The Vice President, as well as his daughter Sen. Nancy Binay, refused to comment on the matter as they have yet to be officially informed of the decision of the Remullas.

Cavite is the second largest province in the country in terms of numbers of registered voters.

Earlier, the Garcias of Cebu, the largest province in terms of voters, also pulled their support from Binay and backed Duterte.

Binay’s platform

The Binay camp released recently his comprehensive platform should he get elected president.

The 20-page document includes details of what Binay intends to do in 26 areas, including macro-economy, poverty alleviation, healthcare, education, labor and employment, and overseas Filipino workers.

Other proposals include his platform for Mindanao, shelter, fiscal policy, infrastructure, investment, trade, tourism, agriculture and food, anti-corruption, traffic and transportation, tax reform, peace and order, disaster preparedness and agenda for women.

Binay also bared his proposals for micro, small and medium enterprises, mining and oil exploration, power and energy, manufacturing, foreign policy including relations with China and his plans to amend the economic provisions of the Constitution.

Binay also yesterday pledged to protect the rights and welfare of workers as the country commemorates Labor Day today.

“As a form of gratitude to their contribution, the government has to ensure that their rights and welfare are protected,” he said.

Binay noted his track record as a lawyer for labor unions during martial law, saying the next president should be able to understand the plight of ordinary Filipinos, especially the poor.

He contrasted himself with Duterte, who earlier warned labor unions against staging protests.

Binay said under his administration, Filipino workers here and abroad would receive support from the government.

“They can count on a government that will provide permanent and quality jobs that will enable them to provide for a better life for their families,” he added.