BINANGONAN, Rizal, Philippines – The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) has started campaigning in vote-rich provinces, where Vice President Jejomar Binay won in 2010.
Following the kickoff in Mandaluyong City on Tuesday, Binay went to Southern Tagalog to present his platform that focuses on eradicating poverty.
He went to Laguna on Wednesday, Cavite on Thursday, Batangas on Friday and Rizal yesterday.
The UNA slate was set to hold a mini-rally in Marikina last night and return to Cavite today.
Binay was accompanied by his running mate Sen. Gregorio Honasan II in his motorcade and sorties on the first week of the campaign.
Senatorial candidates Princess Jacel Kiram, Parañaque councilor Alma Moreno, former Special Action Forces chief Getulio Napeñas, labor lawyer Allan Montaño and broadcaster Rey Langit also joined the sorties.
In an interview yesterday, UNA spokesman Mon Ilagan said the public has been responsive to the Vice President.
“You can say that Calabarzon is a bailiwick of Vice President Binay. He won here in 2010,” Ilagan said in Filipino.
Binay stronghold
The four provinces visited by Binay in the past week belong to the top 10 provinces with the most number of registered voters.
Data from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) show Cavite is second with 1.84 million voters, and Laguna is fourth with 1.67 million.
Batangas and Rizal are seventh and eighth, with 1.5 million and 1.4 million voters, respectively.
Binay won against administration candidate Manuel Roxas II by around 700,000 votes in these provinces in 2010.
During his visit in Rizal yesterday, the Vice President stressed the need for a leader who has a good track record in management and compassion for the poor.
He promised to prioritize projects that would end poverty experienced by millions of Filipinos.