MANILA (Updated) -- The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) was launched Wednesday as a coalition that will try to oust the ruling Liberal Party (LP) in next year's polls.
In his keynote speech, UNA chairman Vice President Jejomar Binay again scored the administration's failures and alleged insensitivity to address the people's needs.
"Sa loob ng limang taon, napakarami pa rin ang walang trabaho, mga nagugutom, at mga maysakit nawalang magamutan. Mga kabataang hindi mapag-aral ng kanilang pamilya. Talamak na krimen at iligal na droga sa mga komunidad. Laganap pa rin ang kahirapan. Kaya ba ang tanong ng bayan: nasaan ang gobyerno?" he said.
He also criticized the unreliable services of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and the government's bungled anti-terror operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last January 25 that claimed 67 lives, including 44 elite cops.
"Ang UNA ay hindi samahan ng mga palpak at manhid. Hindi ito samahan ng mga tamad, usad-pagong at teka-teka sa pagharap sa mga problema ng bayan. May sapat na karanasan at hindi bagitong mag-aaral pa lang sa pamamahala at pagsisilbi sa bayan," Binay said.
Binay resigned last week as housing czar and Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers’ Concerns, concreting his position as the opposition's main man.
He is running for president next year and may square off with LP's presumptive candidate Local Government Secretary Roxas II.
“Itatatag ng UNA ang isang pamahalaang nakasandig sa katapatan, hustisya at galing,” Binay said, adding the three pillars of UNA governance are social inclusion, economic dynamism, and effective governance.
He said UNA has programs to boost the sectors of agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, business process outsourcing and export.
The Vice President said the party will also enhance the country's basic education and will also subsidize higher education.
"Kasama rito ang ayuda para sa uniporme, gamit sa eskuwela, libro at mga tamang pagkain para sa mga batang mag-aaral. Lulutasin ang matatagal nang kakulangan sa silid-aralan. Aasikasuhin natin ang kapakanan ng mga guro na matagal ng pinabayaan ng pamahalaan," Binay said.
Further, Binay said he will also improve the service and facilities of public hospitals by providing comprehensive health care to all and free medical services to the poor.
"Samahan ninyo ako upang magka-totoo ang ating pangarap na iangat ang buhay ng bawat Pilipino. Palaganapin ang ating panawagan ng bagong laban sa kahirapan. Ipaliwanag abg kawawang kalagayan ng ating bayan dahil sa isang manhid at palpak na pamahalaan,” Binay said.
During the event, the party’s national officers – president, vice president, secretary general, treasurer, legal counsel, and chairman – were formally announced.
Navotas Representative Toby Tiangco was elected as the party’s president, Senator Gregorio Honasan II as vice president, lawyer JV Bautista as secretary general, and former finance secretary Margarito “Gary” Teves as treasurer.
The Vice President’s wife Elenita and daughters Senator Nancy Binay and Makati City Representative Abigail Binay attended the launch to show their support.
Suspended Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr. was also present at the event.
UNA's potential senatorial bets, Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao and Parañaque City Councilor Alma Moreno, also took part in the event.
Conspicuously absent at the launch was UNA stalwart Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, who is reportedly torn between supporting Binay and Senator Grace Poe, daughter of his bosom buddy, the late movie icon Fernando Poe Jr.
The senator, however, has yet to decide whether she would seek higher post.
"Medyo nagku-contemplate lang muna si [Estrada]. And I think the one who can solve this kung saka-sakaling reluctant siya (to support Binay) o may konting sabihin natin na tampo ng konti o pag-iwas ng konti, it is only the Vice President and the former president could resolve the problem," UNA spokesman Mon Ilagan told reporters.
Estrada's son, Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito, and nephew former Laguna governor Emilio Ramon Ejercito were present, as well as other Binay allies and supporters from all over the country who packed the 3,000-seater Makati Coliseum.
The event was hosted by the son of former senator Ernesto Maceda, Erwin Maceda, and radio personalities Nicole Hyala and Chris Tsuper. (with Marie Shane Krizzia Delgado, UST intern/Sunnex)