Aquino meets Binay, Cabinet on Yolanda rehab implementation

President Benigno S. Aquino III presides over the Special Cabinet Meeting on Typhoon Yolanda updates at the Aguinaldo State Dining Room of the Malacañan Palace on Wednesday (November 05, 2014). Also in photo are Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima; Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Jesus Paje; Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda; Presidential Management Staff head Julia Andrea Abad; and Vice President Jejomar Binay. GIL NARTEA/Malacañang Photo Bureau)

MANILA, Philippines — President Benigno Aquino III led a “special Cabinet meeting” that was also attended by Vice President Jejomar Binay on Wednesday on the implementation of the “Yolanda” Comprehensive Recovery and Rehabilitation Plan (CRRP).

“The President will get updates on CRRP implementation as of 31 October from OPARR (Office of the Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery) Secretary (Panfilo) Lacson and heads of concerned clusters,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a statement.

‎‎A video of the meeting as it started showed Aquino sitting across Binay, who is also the head of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC).

The HUDCC was recently appointed as the lead agency, together with the National Housing Authority, that will implement Administrative Order 44, which provides for the fast-tracking of resettlement projects through a one-stop-shop.

The meeting was the first time the two top officials appeared in public together after the President told Binay that he was free to leave the Cabinet if he feels that they are going in the wrong direction.

Although acknowledging the Vice President’s work in the housing sector, Aquino said Binay, as a Cabinet member, is obligated to present solutions instead of just criticisms.

Binay had been criticizing the administration amid a Senate probe spearheaded by Aquino’s allies on the alleged overpriced Makati City Hall parking building II. The Senators accuse Binay of receiving kickbacks and using his ill-gotten wealth to develop a large estate in Batangas.

Despite Aquino’s strong words, Binay said he had high respects for the President and would continue to be a team player.

Other Cabinet clusters  invited to the meeting were on infrastructure (Department of Public Works and Highways), social services (Department of Social Works and Development), livelihood (Department of Trade and Industry and Department of Labor and Employment) and support (Department of Budget and Management and National Economic and Development Authority).

“The priority programs and projects of 2015 will be presented,” Coloma said.

Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II was also at the meeting although he arrived late.

There has been a lot of speculation on the relationship of the three officials because of Binay’s decision to run for president in 2016 under the opposition. Binay has close ties with the Aquinos but the President is said to favor Roxas, who is also a Liberal Party official, as his successor.

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Originally posted: 11:44 AM | Wednesday, November 5th, 2014