Rizal provincial Governor Nina Ricci Ynares and former governor Casimiro Ynares endorsed Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay’s senatorial bid ahead of the Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas rally in Antipolo City.
Mayor Binay was endorsed by the Ynares couple during a gathering of mayors, congressmen, board members and barangay officials on Thursday, April 3.
Governor Ynares expressed her support and confidence in Binay’s qualifications, citing her leadership in Makati.
“We know Makati is doing great. We know you are highly qualified to replicate your achievements in Makati in the entire Philippines,” the incumbent governor said.
In her message, Mayor Binay reaffirmed her commitment to championing legislation that will benefit local government units, putting emphasis on the need to uplift and empower barangays and their role in governance.
“I think you need a voice in the Senate that will say let’s give importance and professionalize the barangays because we always focus on the mayor, we always focus on the province, but why don’t we focus on the barangays? That is the basic unit of public service for us,” she said.
Mayor Binay also underscored her advocacy for disaster risk reduction and the welfare of rescue workers, noting that Rizal Province is particularly at risk for natural calamities.
“Especially in Rizal, one thing that we want to push in the Senate is that all DRRM
(Disaster Risk Reduction and Management) employees should have insurance. There should be GSIS,” the aspiring senator said.
Binangonan Mayor Cesar Ynares, President of the League of Municipalities – Rizal Chapter, and Liga ng mga Barangay – Rizal Chapter President Edmun Aquino also expressed their full support for Binay’s senatorial bid. Other local leaders and candidates were also in attendance.
They both called on their fellow Rizaleños to work together to ensure her victory. At present, Rizal has a voting population of 1.67 million.
Among Binay’s main legislative priorities are providing free maintenance medicines, strengthening early childhood education, and removing taxes on bonuses and overtime pay of private sector and government workers.