Analysts told abs-cbnNews.com/Newsbreak that Binay's “stubborn machinery” among select local officials across the country and the endorsement Sen. Francis Escudero helped increase his ratings.
In the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey conducted May 2-3, Binay tied with Roxas for the first place with 37%.
When Pulse Asia conducted their survey last April 23-25, Binay was the chosen vice presidential candidate of 28% of respondents, overtaking consistent survey second-placer Legarda who had 20% rating.
In earlier SWS and Pulse Asia surveys, Binay only got 10% and 14%, respectively. This rapidly increased in the succeeding periods.
The network
This "sisterhood" is composed of 37 cities and 182 municipalities.
The sister municipalities could share with the basic social services and get disaster assistance from one of the wealthiest local governments in the country.
Alex Brillantes, a local governance expert and dean of the University of the Philippines National College of Public Administration, said that the ties between the local governments largely contributed to Binay's steady and rapid increase in surveys.
Political strategist and communications manager Malou Tiquia told abs-cbnNews.com/Newsbreak that the machinery of Binay which includes the sisterhood, other local leaders, Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan “oldies,” and affiliates of his party the United Opposition is helping him increase his ratings.
This “stubborn machinery,” she said, “would kick in on election day.”
Tiquia is helping the campaign of Bagumbayan standard bearer Richard "Dick" Gordon.
Proud sisters
Brillantes narrated that when he goes all over the country, cities and municipalities are really proud of being sisters of Makati.
He narrated that when he drives by Laguna, a province where 7 municipalities and the city of Calamba are sister localities of Makati, he sees a lot of posters expressing gratitude for how Makati's contributions have helped fund municipal hospitals and rescue operations in their areas after typhoon Ondoy hit the country in late September 2009.
City halls across the country also display posters that they are proud to be a part of the sisterhood, he said.
Brillantes said that local governments in the sisterhood network have an amicable, “big-brother-small-brother” relationship that is not threatening.
Although Makati is a wealthy city, their relationship shows that there is a lot of goodwill. It's not a vertical relationship where one local government has power over the other.
Good timing
Tiquia said that Binay's movement in the closing days of the air war is “all about the endorsement” of Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero.
Escudero was expected to run for president until his November 2009 announcement that he would bolt the Nationalist People's Coalition and would no longer run in 2010.
In the last week of April, a political ad came out with Escudero endorsing Binay. In the ad he said: “Ang bise presidente ko, hindi pinanganak na mayaman; hindi ilustrado (My vice president was not born rich. He is not a part of high society).”
Roxas, who at the time was the topping the vice presidential surveys, is known to be from an affluent and political family.
“Given a week of play [of the ad], Binay will move and could potentially overtake Mar (Roxas),” Tiquia said.
Another political analyst, Benito Lim, said that Roxas is the hardest opponent to overcome. This is because Roxas has prepared for the presidency since 2007, which means that he has a powerful machinery.
But because of the Escudero endorsement, Binay has a fighting chance.
When the latest Pulse Asia survey was released, Pulse Asia chief research fellow Ana Tabunda said that Escudero's “endorsement power” could be behind Binay's 9-point climb.
Consistent message
In February 2010, Tabunda said that, for Binay, for a vice presidential candidate who was quite unknown because he is only a city mayor, was performing quite well.
“He is actually doing very well, considering that the other two candidates he is running up against, in the top 2, were vying for the presidential position. Given that Binay is going double digits is talking a lot about his campaign,” she told abs-cbnNews.com/Newsbreak.
She said that his ads showing his accomplishments are seen by Makati constituents and his story of rising from poverty connected with the voters. Tabunda added that Binay had a true story of poverty, which is credible.
“His ads are helping him a lot, especially outside NCR (National Capital Region). Because NCR knows who he is,” she said.
Happy with results
Binay's tag line in his ads is, “Yung pangako ng ibang kandidato, nagawa na ni Mayor Binay (What other candidates are promising, Mayor Binay already accomplished).”
“We are very happy with the results. We have offered to the people our track record as an executive with concrete accomplishments and as a true oppositionist. The people heard our message and ignored the black propaganda and mudslinging of our closet rivals,” he said.
“It is going to be a close fight,” he said when he found out that he was tied with Roxas for the first place in the latest SWS survey.
“But we have the momentum and we have the people behind us,” he added.
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