Binay vows to build Malacañang in CDO

United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) standard bearer Vice President Jejomar Binay. PHOTO BY JOAN BONDOC

Vowing to make the presidential palace “nearer to the local governments,” Vice President Jejomar Binay said he will establish his promised regional office of Malacañang in Mindanao in Cagayan de Oro City (CDO) if he wins in the May 9 elections.

Binay made the remark in a chance interview with reporters during a campaign sortie in CDO on Monday.

“Kaya ngayon, meron akong ilalagay (na) Malacañang in the south, Malacañang sa northern Luzon noon pa. Ngayon, wala ditong Malacañang sa Mindanao, so maglalagay ako ng Malacañang in Mindanao dito sa Cagayan de Oro,” Binay said.

Binay told a crowd of about 20,000 that he will be a “hands-on president,” saying that he will personally oversee developments in the region to curb the perennial problem of poverty.

“Sinasabi po ngayon, kahirapan pa rin ang problema. I’ve been asked to rate this government, sabi ko failing mark. Bakit? Wala ho talagang naitulong sa mga mahihirap,” he added.

It was during a campaign rally at Lanao del Norte in February that Binay first said he would put up a Malacañang in Mindanao to help Muslims feel the decentralization in government.

READ: Binay vows to build Malacañang in Mindanao for decentralization in gov’t

The vice president then said he would also build a Malacañang in Cebu.

Another presidential aspirant Sen. Grace Poe earlier promised to set up a Malacañang regional office in Pangasinan, her late father’s hometown, should she win the presidency.

READ: Poe vows to establish regional office of Malacañang in Pangasinan

Binay was accompanied by UNA senatorial bets former Special Action Force director Getulio Napeñas Jr., labor lawyer Allan Montaño and broadcaster Rey Langit.

He is set to take his campaign to Sarangani province and General Santos City on Tuesday, the turf of boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, a senatorial candidate in his opposition slate. JE