VP Binay vows to check Yolanda claims vs. GSIS

ORMOC CITY , Philippines  â€” Vice President Jejomar Binay Jr. said the first thing he will do when he gets to Manila will be to check on why the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has not yet released a single centavo to pay the insurance coverage of government-owned infrastructure.

Binay expressed concern that it was delaying the rehabilitation of these public infrastructures, at a time when LGUs need it most. He said he once worked for Insular Life for four years, and they were prompt to pay claims because that was what getting insurance coverage was all about, to help clients through hard times. 

The vice president said he had the chance to observe the still unrepaired state of the government facilities when he walked around Ormoc City proper early in the morning.

Binay disclosed this situation during the unveiling ceremony of the marker for the OCCCI-Pag-Ibig subdivision development project for Yolanda victims.

Pag-Ibig and the homegrown Metro-Ormoc City Credit and Multi-purpose Cooperative (OCCCI) recently inked a memorandum of agreement to develop the subdivision and finance 278 units under a calamity loan scheme,  which offers lower interest than the regular housing loan.

With Binay, in his visit to Ormoc, were Pag-IBIG CEO Darlene Berberabe and Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian of Valenzuela City.

The vice president also revealed somehow his presidential plans on 2016, joking that hearing people say he could be the future president of the Philippines was "music to his ears."

Present to welcome Binay in Ormoc City were Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez (4th district, Leyte), City Mayor Edward Codilla and Vice Mayor Leo Carmelo Locsin Jr, OCCCI's CEO Jose Mosquite and Fr. Cornelio Amante, OCCI board chairman. — -Lalaine M. Jimenea

Gomez thanked Binay for helping out Ormoc. She said Binay was one of few high-ranking government officials in the Aquino administration "that is always accessible, all the time."

Binay said he and Gomez have been collaborating to develop low-cost housing through the National Housing Authority.  

Berberabe, for her part, said Pag-IBIG has set aside P15-billion for its special program for Yolanda victims.  (FREEMAN)