Makati Mayor and senatorial aspirant Abigail Binay has landed among the top candidates in a national survey of senatoriables conducted across youth and students sectors by the newly-formed Centre for Student Initiatives (CSI).
Binay ranked fifth with a 43.67 percent voter preference in the maiden survey done by the CSI among randomly selected 1,200 respondents, consisting of students from various universities and colleges in the country.
Binay acknowledged the support of the youth sector, vowing to “pursue more reforms in education to prepare students for the challenges of a modern, global economy.”
“I am heartened by the youth sector’s strong show of support. I am inspired all the more to press for better government support for our youth and students,” she said.
She underscored the importance of technology in promoting literacy and proficiency among students, saying the government should provide quality education and modern instructional resources that meet the demands of the 21st century.
“I will make it my priority to provide our students free access to modern learning tools such as tablets and computers. In this rapidly changing world, it is crucial to ensure that every child, regardless of socio-economic background, has the opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute positively to society,” Binay said.
She also emphasized the need to immediately address basic educational needs such as the backlog in classrooms, improvements in learning materials and upgrading of the curriculum, especially for technical skills required by local and global industries.
The mayor said she will also prioritize bills that will promote equal access to quality education starting from the formative years of a child’s development, through primary, secondary, and tertiary education, and even beyond.
She also vowed to push for legislation that will promote better health programs and services adequately covering prenatal care, new-born care, complete child immunization, and proper nutrition, among others.
In the past eight years, Mayor Binay has initiated a number of innovative programs for children and students in Makati.
She initiated the Pre-Kindergarten (Pre-K) Learning program for children aged four to four-and-a-half years, which teachers them the necessary social skills, basic hygiene, and basic preparatory skill sets that will help them adjust, cope, and excel in kindergarten.
Binay also expanded the city’s Project FREE (Free Relevant and Excellent Education) to include rubber shoes and Japan-inspired school bags and uniforms, as well as rain gear, reusable tumblers, anti-dengue kits, dental kits, hygiene kits, hard hats, and emergency go bags for public school children from preschool to senior high school.
The city-run University of Makati has earned accolades during her term, often surpassing national average ratings in licensure examinations in various fields. The UMak School of Law established in 2017 has been ranked among the top-performing law schools in the country. For seven years now, it has provided full scholarships to qualified applicants from all over the country, with support and funding from the city government.
Binay is also a staunch advocate of new-born screening and breastfeeding, and continues to promote the safety of both mother and child.
The CSI is an independent student-directed research institution for development solutions in education and youth participation in governance.
CSI reported that out of the total respondents based in Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Central Luzon, Western and Central Visayas, 64 percent are enrolled in state universities and colleges, 12 percent in local government-managed universities and colleges, and 24 percent in privately owned universities.
Other senatorial bets that topped the survey included former senators Francis Pangilinan, Panfilo Lacson, and Bam Aquino; incumbent Senators Pia Cayetano and Ramon Revilla Jr;, Representatives France Castro, Erwin Tulfo, and Arlene Brosas; former Senate President Tito Sotto; Dr. Willie Ong, and Luke Espiritu.
