BORONGAN, Eastern Samar – Vice President Jejomar Binay on Thursday promised that the destruction brought about by the monster storm Yolanda would not happen under his administration.

He made this promise during his campaign rally at the provincial capitol gym in Borongan, one of the severely-hit areas in Eastern Samar.

Binay said he as chairman of the National Housing Authority (NHA) even had to apologize to the Yolanda victims whom he promised to give shelter because the funds had not been released by the national government.

READ: Binay mocks Roxas comics as he campaigns with ‘Yolanda’ survivors

“Sa aking pamumuno di mangyayari yung naranasan ninyo sa Region VII. Hanggang ngayon, hindi pa tapos ang rehabilitation,” Binay said.

(In my administration, that won’t happen in Region VII. Up to now, the rehabilitation isn’t finished.)

“Naging Cabinet member ako. May pera po talaga. Yung hong pinangakuan nang bahay, sinasabi ko nga, pasensya na po. Chairman ako ng NHA ha, hindi ho natin magawa lahat nang dapat gawin dahil sa Yolanda, kasi walang nirerelease na pera. Ano bang klaseng gobyerno ito?” he added.

(I was a Cabinet member. There was money. Those who were promised with housing, I told them, have some patience. I am the chairman of the NHA, but we couldn’t do all that we must do for the Yolanda [victims] because there was no money released. What kind of government is this?)

Binay lamented the government is resorting to underspending to boast it has a lot of savings but at the expense of the targeted beneficiaries.

“Gusto lang mayaman para sabihing mayaman, gusto mayabang na maraming pera. Hindi po yan ang tamang pamamahala,” he said.

(They want to say we are wealthy, they are proud to have more money. But that’s not the right way to govern.)

In a statement on Thursday, Binay also vowed to build 190,000 houses during his first year in office if he is elected president.

“Sisiguruin kong matapos lahat ng housing projects para sa Yolanda victims sa loob ng unang taon ng aking administrasyon,” Binay said.

(I’ll make sure all the housing projects for Yolanda victims will be finished in the first year of my administration.) TVJ

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