150 Northern Mindanao sectoral leaders launch Binay for President Movement

October 29, 2008

By Lizanilla J. Amarga

Some 150 multi-sectoral leaders here in Northern Mindanao yesterday joined their counterparts in other parts of the country in initiating a nationwide movement to urge Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay to run as presidential candidate for the opposition in the National Elections this coming 2010.
Spearheading the local call were Northern Mindanao Regional Tribal Council president Fernando Bermoy, Philippine Federation for Credit Cooperatives Northern Mindanao Region (PFCCO-NMR) general manager Dave Pajaron, Group Foundation, Inc. executive director Mike Cagulada, Mindanao Youth Volunteer Corps, Inc. president Rhobert Maestre, Non-Government Organization (NGO) Council – Region X president Jordan Ian Apat, Kagawasang Mindanaw co-convenor Stanley Uriante and BINAY NA! Youth Region 10-Cagayan de Oro president Karlos Adolfo Cañeda.
These group leaders led all the others in sigining a manifesto containing their support for Binay during a formal gathering and consultation at the Balay Mindanao center in Barangay Bulua this city this Monday.
These leaders said parralel efforts are also initiated in other regional centers such as Cebu, Davao, Tacloban, Bohol, Iloilo and Bacolod all coordinated by their national convenor Rodolfo Cañeda and support of Sen. Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel, Jr. through his local leader Ben Ranque.
The manifesto contained their convictions on how Binay, who is the national president of both the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Laban (PDP-Laban) and the United Opposition (UNO), is the only one they consider as the “true opposition leader from the ranks” as compared to the others who have already manifested their intentions to run for president in 2010.
They said Binay is also known not just for “creating partnerships” with different sectors in society and reaching across political aisles for the sake of progress, but also, to “look for new approaches” in situations while remaining consistent to his ideals.
For them, Binay has a “good record” with how he turned Makati City as one of the most progressive cities in the country so can he do the same if he were to be elected as president of the country.
Representatives from the lumands and urban poor leaders who signed the manifesto said they believe that Binay would put a stop to the demolitions and evictions of the urban poor, the proper distribution of land for the poor, the establishment of a “Government-Church-Civil-Society Commisison” and the full support for the Community Mortgage Program to mention a few.
The women’s sector for its part said Binay can do a lot when it comes to fully implementing Republic Act 7192 or the Women in national Building Act of 1992, RA 7610 or the Special Protection of Children AGainst Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination and for other Purposes, RA 7877 or the Anti Sexual Harassment Act of 1995 and RA 8396 or the Family Courts Act of 1997,
Also, RA 8042 or the Migrant Workers & Overseas Filipino Act of 1995, RA 8353 or the Anti Rape Law of 1997, RA 8505 or the Rape Victim Assistance and Protection Act of 1998, RA 9028 or Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, RA 9262 or the Violence Against Women and Children Act of 2004 and Executive Order 209 or the Family Code of the Philippines.
The youth sector siad they are throwing their weight on Binay as they believe the Makati Mayor can help solve the inaccessibility of education, economic crisis the country is currently suffering, can create more job with just wages and empower the youth to help change the country for the better.
The local cooperatives for their part voiced convictions that Binay can further strengthen them just as he did for their their counterparts in Makati. Pajaron, who led the cooperatives said they are also asking Binay to look into the oppressive tax system that cooperetives are subjected despite how the RA 6938 or the Cooperatives Code of the Philippines provides that cooperatives are tax free entities. (See separate story)
Among the groups who attended are Dakbayanong Kabus sa La Paz II Women’s Party (DKLRWP), Dakbayanong Kabus sa Lapa II (DLP), Nagkahiusang Lumulupyo sa La Paz II (NLLP), Grupo sa Kababaihan sa Centro Kolambog Lapasan (GRCKL), Upper Kolambog Women’s Association (UKWA), Purok 6 Urban Poor Neighborhood Association (PUPNA), Katawhan sa Macabalan Alang sa Kausaban (KASAMA), Kalipunan Liping Pilipina (KALIPI), Women’s Neighborhood Association (WNA).
Oro Savings & Sharing Cooperative (OSSC), Balulang Community Cooperative (Bacomco), Cagayan de Oro Motorela Divers’ Cooperative, Kapatiran and District – IV- Cooperative, Gusa Senior Citizens’ Association (GUSCA), Gusa Seaside Fisherfolk Association (GUSEAFA), KASAMAKO, Hillside Landless Association, Terra Villa Verde Association, Paginuman Neighborhood Association, Green Heights- Balulang Association, Bognao Village Association, Golden Blvd. Home Association, Upper Zayas Landless Association, Inc. and Habol, Inc. among others.