Some of the residence of EMBO barangays protest and frustration towards Makati Mayor Abby Binay’s inaction for their welfare following the Supreme Court’s decision transferring their jurisdiction to the City of Taguig.
Mary Grace Garcia, an EMBO (Enlisted Men’s Barrio) resident, as she vented her
Garcia lamented the closure of health centers in the EMBO barangays last year after Binay backed out of her earlier commitment to turn them over to Taguig. “Masakit sa amin ang ginawa niya, lalo na sa mga [health] centers.
Alam niya na maraming mahihirap ang ‘di kayang pumunta sa private [hospitals], tapos ganyan ginawa niya? Sinarado niya,” Garcia said. Adding to the residents’ grievances is the invalidation of ‘yellow cards,’ which previously provided free medical services to residents of the 10 EMBO barangays.
This situation has been particularly challenging for patients in EMBO, especially senior citizens like Armando Santocildes, who expressed his disappointment. “Bilang isang senior [citizen], asan na ang mga [health] centers? Dati napakalapit, pero ngayon nagdudusa na ako. Pumupunta pa ako ng Taguig,” he said.
Santocildes criticized Binay’s decisions, particularly the closure of public facilities meant to serve ordinary citizens. “Kung ang adhikain nila ay makatulong sa masa, dapat [mga programa nila] pang-masa.
Katulad ng mga basketball courts at health centers—lahat ’yan pinasarado nila. Asan yung sinabing ‘makatao’? Nawala yun, kasi kung talagang makatao ka, iintindihin mo yung mga taong nangangailangan talaga,” he added.
As Mayor Abby Binay eyes a potential senatorial run in the 2025 elections, residents criticized her for using City of Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano and Senator Alan Peter Cayetano’s names in her political rhetoric against Taguig.
This move, they say, reflects poorly on Binay’s leadership. “Mali ang ginagawa niya. Maganda naman ang ginagawa ng mga Cayetano. Bakit kailangan niya pa awayin? Dapat magtulungan at mag-suportahan na lang.
Gusto nila maibalik ang nararapat sa mga tao para gumanda ang Pembo. Gusto lang nila makatulong sa amin,” Garcia pointed out. “Dapat ’di na ginagamit ni Abby Binay ang mga Cayetano para sumikat pa. Sana po, mga taga-EMBO, gumising na po tayo sa katotohanan,” Santocildes added.
Amid growing frustration among EMBO residents, discontent is escalating as accusations surface, claiming that Binay is merely a showman. “Pinahirapan na niya masyado ang mga tao sa EMBO. Hinahanap ko y’ung huling salita niya noon na ipaglalaban niya ang mga [tao] sa EMBO, ngayon iniwan niya nalang basta-basta na hindi man lang niya ipinaglaban,” shared by another resident, Cherry Vera. The closure of health centers was not the only issue that angered residents. Fire stations, day care centers, and covered courts in EMBO barangays were also shut down by Makati denying residents essential public facilities.
The Reporma News Online is trying to contact Mayor Abby Binay to get her reaction on this grievances of the residents.
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