By Nimfa Estrellado Makati Mayor Abby Binay (left) meets with Tayabas City Mayor Maria Lourdes ‘Lovely’ Reynoso-Pontioso at the New Tayabas ...
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| Makati Mayor Abby Binay (left) meets with Tayabas City Mayor Maria Lourdes ‘Lovely’ Reynoso-Pontioso at the New Tayabas City Hall, discussing local governance and Binay's senatorial platform. (Tayabas CICRO) |
TAYABAS CITY, Quezon – Makati Mayor and senatorial aspirant Mar-len Abigail "Abby" Binay-Campos campaigned across Quezon province on March 19, 2025, outlining her platform focused on improved healthcare, education, and wage reforms. This visit marks her effort to extend her political reach beyond Makati, emphasizing her record of local governance as a foundation for national policy.
Binay-Campos's visit included meetings with local officials in Tayabas and Lucena, where she stressed her commitment to addressing key issues impacting Filipinos. In Tayabas City, at the New Tayabas City Hall, Mayor Maria Lourdes “Lovely” Reynoso-Pontioso welcomed her. Binay-Campos highlighted the success of Makati's early childhood education program.
"Our daycare program is great because this is our secret for why our scores in the National Achievement Test are high. From kindergarten, daycare, and even pre-kindergarten, we are already taking care of the children. By the time they reach Grade 3, our children are already proficient in reading and literacy," Binay-Campos stated.
Binay-Campos cited Makati's public schools' performance in the 2023-2024 NAT, demonstrating they surpassed regional and national averages. Specifically, Makati students achieved higher average scores in Mathematics and English, indicating the effectiveness of their early education programs. She also visited Barangay Lakawan, reiterating her commitment to providing free maintenance medicines for senior citizens, acknowledging the financial burden these medications place on families.
In Lucena City, Binay-Campos met with Mayors Mark Don Alcala and Roderick “Dondon” Alcala, discussing Makati's digital initiatives aimed at streamlining government services. During a lunch meeting with Rep. Mark Enverga, she emphasized the importance of proper healthcare budgeting, advocating for the provision of quality medicines over purely cash assistance.
"What’s really important is proper budgeting," Binay-Campos said. "You may have a lot of money, but if it’s not spent wisely and goes to things that don’t matter, then it’s just wasted. What’s important is that whether you have a little or a lot of money, as long as it’s used properly, that’s what we need."
Binay-Campos also attended a daycare pre-recognition event, reinforcing her focus on early childhood education and the importance of literacy and numeracy skills. This event served as a demonstration of her dedication to the youth and their development.
"It’s important that even at a young age, children already love reading. Literacy and numeracy skills are key. We need to address this early. Because by the time they’re in Grade 5, it’s already too late," Binay-Campos stated.
She emphasized that investing in early education yields long-term benefits, not only in academic performance but also in overall societal development. This includes the cultivation of a more informed and engaged citizenry.
Throughout her visit, Binay-Campos detailed her broader platform, which includes expanding access to free medicines for senior citizens and strengthening Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD). She also advocated for a review of the K-12 program, focusing on improving curriculum relevance and teacher training.
"We need to ensure that our students are equipped with the skills they need for the future," Binay-Campos said regarding the K-12 review.
Additionally, Binay-Campos proposed abolishing the provincial wage rate system to base minimum wages on the actual cost of living, eliminating taxes on overtime pay and bonuses, and enhancing support for barangay officials. She believes these measures will promote economic fairness and strengthen local governance.
"The current wage system is unfair. We need a system that reflects the true cost of living," Binay-Campos explained regarding the wage reform. "And our barangay officials deserve better support for the work they do."
These proposals aim to address economic disparities and strengthen local governance, demonstrating her commitment to improving the lives of all Filipinos. Binay-Campos's platform also reflects her advocacy for empowering local government units, a key component of her vision for national development.
Binay-Campos's political history, involving a family with deep roots in Philippine politics, serves as a point of discussion with citizens. The topic of digital initiatives highlights the increasing importance of technology in both local and national government, showcasing a modern approach to governance.
While Binay-Campos's visit garnered positive responses from local officials, she enters a complex political landscape characterized by a competitive senatorial election. Some residents expressed enthusiasm for her proposals, particularly those related to healthcare and wages, while others noted the challenges of implementing such sweeping changes nationwide.
Binay-Campos visited several towns, including Sampaloc, Mauban, Tayabas, Lucena, Tiaong, and Candelaria, explaining her proposals to local officials. She concluded her visit by emphasizing her focus on providing concrete solutions to national issues, expressing her intent to bring the experience of Makati's governance to the national stage.
"I believe my experience in Makati has prepared me to serve on a national level. I want to bring the same level of efficiency and care to the entire country," Binay said, articulating her readiness to serve.
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