Ex-mayor Abby says Makati can pay for subway project

Former Makati City Mayor Abby Binay-Campos has belied claims that the city government is not capable of paying for the $160-million award the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) may give in favor of Philippine Infradev Holdings Inc., the Makati subway project's contractor, for the project.

- By PATRICK GARCIA

"Claims that there will be no more funds for services and operations are baseless. Do not scare Makatizens and the employees. This fearmongering is unwarranted. There are allocated funds for programs for Makatizens as well as for the salaries and benefits of city government employees. I made sure of that," Binay-Campos said in a statement on Monday, July 7, pointing out that she left Makati with nearly P30 billion in cash.

She made the clarification after her sister, Makati City Mayor Nancy Binay, flagged her administration's alleged "midnight settlement" obligating the city to pay P8.96 billion to Philippine InfraDev Holdings Inc.