Binay: Lawyer should lead Phl in 2016

MANILA, Philippines - A lawyer-president who has the experience and competence in both leadership and management should lead the country in 2016, according to Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Without naming names, Binay bared his vision for the Philippines in 2016 during a convention of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines in Cebu City Friday.

“I see a great country that is prosperous, peaceful and orderly, efficiently governed, where people are cared for and provided with all opportunities to become productive citizens,” Binay, a human rights lawyer before entering politics, said.

“The starting point in efforts to translate vision into reality is government,” he added.

The Vice President even took a swipe at the present administration, saying there will be no derivative or reincarnation of the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program and Priority Development Assistance Fund.

“Attention will be given to the needs of state colleges and universities, public hospitals and clinics, police stations, and mass housing,” he said.

“At the same time, the salaries and benefits of public school teachers, public health workers, members of the police force and other public servants will be elevated to exact professionalism, shore up their dignity, attract the best and the brightest and keep them within our shores safe in the arms of their families,” he added.

Binay discussed other issues such as the problems on the country’s ports, airports and train systems.

“The train system must be redesigned and re-engineered so that it can offer itself as a viable option even for car owners, potentially decongesting traffic in the metro,” said the Vice President.

“The building of infrastructure, a number of which involve public-private partnership, will be prioritized to create more jobs,” he added.

Binay appeared to have laid down his platform during his speech, tackling what the next administration should do in various sectors, including the economy, infrastructure and the peace process in Mindanao.

He also proposed changes in the Constitution.

“Steps will be initiated to introduce long delayed amendments to the Constitution to get our economy on speed with global developments and practices, and unleash the productive and competitive impulses of our businessmen and entrepreneurs,” he said.

“In the national deliberation for constitutional amendment, the matter of federalism or greater autonomy in Muslim Mindanao and the Cordillera can likewise be tackled,” he said.

Binay said the next president should be able to unify the country.

“So much time and energy have been wasted in the furtherance of dirty and vindictive politics, such that our nation has lagged behind in progress at the cost of our people’s quality of life. The 2016 administration must be led by a unifying leader,” he said.

Binay, who has been leading presidential surveys, is under attack over allegations of corruption during his stint as mayor of Makati City and as head of the Boys Scouts of the Philippines.