VP Binay visits far-flung barangays in Toledo City, Cebu

Vice President Jejomar Binay included remote barangays in Toledo City in his trip to the vote-rich province of Cebu, a report on "24 Oras" said Monday.

In one of the barangays, Binay, the opposition's presumptive standard bearer in the 2016 elections, promised that he will push for barangay officials to get salary instead of allowance if he will win as president.

"Sa panahon ni Jojo Binay, prayoridad ang ibibigay ko sa inyo, salary. Sweldo na ang tatanggapin ninyo. Hindi na honorarium or allowance," he said.

According to Joy Binlot, one of the residents of Barangay Climaco, Binay is the first candidate to visit their area.

Toledo City is a sister city of Makati, where Binay served as mayor for years. Resident Daniela Largo said Binay has helped their village, especially during typhoons.

After visiting Toledo, Binay went back to the capital Cebu city where he attended Mass at the Basilica Minore de Santo Niño. But his day did not end there.

He treated streetchildren to dinner at a fastfood chain, and then visited another barangay and had a dialogue with senior citizens, where he told them he will apply what he did in Makati City to the entire Philippines, the "24 Oras" report said.

Mar, Grace

Binay's possible contenders in the 2016 elections, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and Senator Grace Poe, were also in Cebu on Monday.

Binay did not make a big deal out of the coincidence, saying he is not avoiding the two by choosing to go to remote areas instead.

"Basta't ako, sa mga pagkakataong tayo'y magkakasama, consistent naman mga pinupuntahan ko. Walang malayo, walang malapit. Basta sa masang Pilipino ako dumudulog," he said.

Binay did not win in Cebu in 2010, but he is hopeful that Cebuano voters will remember him in 2016.

"Hopefully, pagdating sa halalan [ay] maalala ako ng mga taga-Cebu, si Jojo Binay," he said.

Cebu had at least 2.5 million actual voters during the 2013 elections, making it the province with the most number of voters in the country. —Trisha Macas/KBK, GMA News