Binay gets backing of women’s group

VICE President Jejomar Binay has received the support of the Kababaihan ng Maynila Foundation that its founder, Buhay Party-list Rep. Lito Atienza, claimed has 25,000 active members. "Ngayon ang kasama natin ay mga representative ng different barangays. Ito ay founded noong 1984, when we were struggling against the dictatorship of Mr. Marcos. They helped me in my Batasan struggle. We won. They helped me in my vice mayor’s election. We won again. They helped me as mayor three times. We kept on winning,” Atienza said. "Lahat ‘yan ay committed kay VP Binay. Sila ang aasahan ni VP Binay.” The foundation, a non-profit, volunteer non-government organization that provides livelihood and skills training programs for women from depressed communities in Manila, is headed by Atienza’s wife, Evelyn, as executive director. "From the beginning, ang advocacy ng Kababaihan ng Maynila ay pro-life, pro-family, pro-good government. Nakita namin na si Jojo Binay ang most qualified maging Pangulo dahil siya ang tumutugon sa advocacy ng Kababaihan ng Maynila,” she said. "Siya ang kailangan naming masuportahan sapagkat magmula noong umpisa, kasama na namin siya sa paglaban sa kalye. Sa pagsulong ng demokrasya, kasama namin si Jojo Binay. Hanggang ngayon sa public service, kasama pa rin naman siya,” she added. Tita Laparan, District III coordinator of Kababaihan ng Maynila, reiterated the group’s support for Binay, saying his experience and proven track record sets him apart from other candidates. "May napatunayan na si VP. Subok na siya. Maganda ang kanyang pagpapaunlad sa Makati na gusto naming gayahin ng ibang namumuno. At higit sa lahat, gusto namin na siya na ang maging Pangulo sa 2016. Hindi na kami mag-aatubili. Wala na kaming iba pang susuportahan maliban sa kanya. Binay talaga,” she said. In his speech at the 31st anniversary of the foundation, Binay cited how women have contributed to the Philippine economy. "One-third o ikatlong bahagi ng mga small and medium enterprises ay pag-aari o pinamamahalaan ng kababaihan. Kabilang dito ang mga karinderya, tindahan, patahian at iba pa. Maliliit na negosyo, ngunit kayo ang bumubuhay sa ating ekonomiya,” Binay said. Binay said 60 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) comes from the informal sector and cited data from the Philippine Institute for Development Studies showing 90 percent of Filipino businesses are small and medium scale industries. "Ang informal sector ay kinabibilangan ng tindero’t tindera, maliliit na negosyante, mga tsuper, at iba na mga karaniwang mamamayan. Ibig sabihin, ang ating pambansang ekonomya ay binubuhay ng ating karaniwang mamamayan,” he said. According to Binay, it is imperative that the government strengthen the country’s small and medium enterprises and noted that 60 to 80 percent of the country’s labor force is employed by small business. Binay also recalled how his mother brought out the best in him and urged members of the Kababaihan ng Maynila Foundation to remain committed in their advocacy of empowering women. "Siya ang aking gabay, ang aking unang guro. Sa kanya ko natutunan ang halaga ng edukasyon, ng pagsisikap, pananalig sa diyos at pagmamahal sa kapwa. Kung anong halaga ng ina sa buhay ng bawat anak, sya ring halaga ng ambag ng kababaihan sa paglilinang ng maunlad, payapa at makatarungang lipunan,” Binay said.//