Binay paints picture of ‘presidency’: No politicians in Cabinet

Vice President Vice President Jejomar Binay. CDN FILE PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA

Vice President Jejomar Binay vowed on Thursday that no politicians will be appointed in the Cabinet if he gets elected president in 2016.

“Under a Binay administration, there will be no politicians in my Cabinet,” Binay said during a speech at the Wallace Business Forum in Makati on Thursday.

“We shall make sure that all Cabinet officials are the best and brightest in their area of specialization, with vast experience in professional and public management, and guided mainly by competence, integrity, and decisiveness. We shall bring in former Cabinet and senior government members,” he said.

The Vice President also outlined his platform of government, saying a Binay administration would be different from the incumbent.

“What can the business sector expect from a Binay presidency? I do not just plan or promise, I get things done,” he said.

Binay said he would “periodically meet and consult with the business sector” to listen to their thoughts and insights.

“We shall allow businessmen, our partners in economic growth and development, to freely say the good and the bad. Together, we can arrive at more win-win situations,” he said.

Binay said he would also convene the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac) and the Judicial Executive Legislative Advisory Council (Jelac) “as often as necessary, but at least quarterly.”

This, he said, would “promote a better understanding on key issues requiring the support of the judiciary and Congress.”

Binay said a regular meeting with the Ledac and Jelac will also “facilitate a consensus and even faster, but sound, decision on key policy issues,” as well as project a favorable image to the investor community “that the three branches of government are working closely together,” Binay added.

“For instance, the controversy over the Disbursement Acceleration Program or DAP could have been prevented or even resolved properly if only the President had consulted the judiciary and legislative branches,” he said.

President Benigno Aquino III was among those being investigated by the Office of the Ombudsman over DAP, which was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

If elected president, Binay said his administration will also “honor the sanctity of contracts, which was not displayed in the contracts of this administration with the MRT-3 maintenance provider, among others.”

He said there should also be a sense of urgency in all government processes required in the business registration system.

“From 16 steps over 34 days, we shall work towards reducing it to six steps over eight days to further improve the country’s competitiveness,” said the Vice President.

He said provisional permits should be issued if the basic requirements have been met. And if there is no decision from a certain department or agency within a certain number of days, the application will be considered as good as approved so as not to stall the process.

Binay, long-time mayor of Makati City before he was elected Vice President in 2010, said his long experience in local governance has also taught him the importance of “continuity, predictability, and sustainability.”

“Development is a product of continued implementation of good reforms, imbedded with new ones,” he said.

“For instance, we should strive to further improve the country’s competitiveness rankings. From 2011 to 2015, the Philippines has moved up a total of 53 notches in the ease of doing business report. We shall continue reforms, spearheaded by the national competitiveness council, in order to push the country in the top third of the global rankings in 2016.”

“We shall continue to implement the PPP (Public-Private Partnership) program as long as the projects are above-board and will truly benefit Filipinos,” he added.

Binay said he would also push for the enactment of pending bills, such as amendments to the build-operate-transfer law and the right-of-way bill, to address the inadequacies and several delays experienced under the current administration. Maila Ager/IDL

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