Binay barnstorms mother’s home province

MANILA, Philippines – United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) standard bearer Vice President Jejomar Binay barnstormed his mother’s home province of Isabela yesterday, reiterating his campaign promises, including the expansion of the government’s conditional cash transfer program.

Around 15,000 people showed up at UNA’s rally in Cabagan town.

“The problem that I would encounter if I become president, I already addressed in Makati. When I became mayor of the city, the lives of the people there improved,” Binay said in his speech delivered mostly in Ibanag, the province’s dialect.

Binay said he would prioritize four programs during his first year in office to combat poverty: the continuation and expansion of the conditional cash transfer program; the abolition of income taxes for workers earning P30,000 a month or less; the provision of free books, uniforms, and school supplies for public school students, as well as free healthcare for the poor.

Binay was joined by his running mate, Sen. Gregorio Honasan II; UNA senatorial bet former Special Action Force director Getulio Napeñas, and local candidates and allies in Isabela led by Vice Gov. Antonio Albano.

Albano promised to deliver substantial votes for Binay in the May 9 polls.

“Rest assured that here in the province of Isabela, no matter what his opponents do, the Vice President will surely win. We predict at least 70 to 80 percent votes here no matter what,” Albano said.

“We know that this is Vice President Jejomar Binay’s mother home province and it is a natural tendency for all Isabeleños to unite together and give one vote for the Vice President,” he said.

The Vice President’s mother, the late Lourdes Gatan Cabauatan, was from Cabagan town.

Incumbent mayors Benedict Calderon of Roxas and Arnold Bautista of Tumauini, former Tuguegarao mayor Delfin Ting Sr., as well as members of local councils, also showed support to Binay.

Luzon has 11 of the 20 vote-rich provinces, with a combined voting population of 15,471,845, or 28.46 percent of total voters registered nationwide.

These include Cavite, Pangasinan, Laguna, Bulacan, Batangas, Rizal, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Quezon, Camarines Sur and Isabela.

Meanwhile, the Vice President will lead the proclamation rally of UNA candidates in Makati City this afternoon.

The kick-off rally of UNA’s local bets will start at 3 p.m. at the intersection of Metropolitan Avenue, Pasong Tamo Street and P. Ocampo (formerly Vito Cruz) extension.