The Office of the Vice President lamented the refusal of the mayor of Roxas City to allow the posting of customary welcome streamers for Vice President Jejomar C. Binay.

"It is unfortunate that the usual courtesies extended to visiting national government officials were not extended to the Vice President in Roxas City," said Joey Salgado, Binay's spokesperson.

"We were informed that Mayor Allan Celino did not allow the posting of the customary welcome streamers. Still, we appreciate the warm welcome being prepared by the people and the sectoral organizations of Roxas City," he added.

Salgado also advised the mayor to set aside politics and respect the Vice President as second highest elected national official.

"We are reminding the mayor that the Vice President of the Republic is the one visiting his city. Dapat walang pulitika kundi respeto sa halal na lider ng bansa," he said.

The visit of the Vice President to Western Visayas has been adjusted to accommodate requests of local executives, senior citizens and various groups to have time with him.

Binay will be in Western Visayas from June 7-9, instead of June 6-8.

In Aklan, Binay will meet with local government officials, senior citizens and representatives of non-governmental organizations of New Washington, Kalibo, Numancia and Nabas.

He will also hold dialogs in Panit-an, Mambusao, Dao and Dumarao in Capiz, as well as in Valderrama, San Jose and Hamtic in Antique.

While in Western Visayas, Binay will lead the medical and dental missions that his office organized in Numancia and Valderrama. He will also visit the scholars of the Vice President Grant-in-Aid Program in the University of Antique and inaugurate senior citizens' centers funded from his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

Binay allocated P150 million of his 2011 PDAF for the construction and repair of 300 senior citizens centers nationwide and P10 million for educational assistance to 10 scholars for each of the 109 state colleges and universities in the country.

As chairman of PDP Laban, Binay will swear in new members of the party from the Western Visayas region.

Joining him are United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) senatorial bets Mitos Magsaysay and Joey de Venecia, UNA spokesperson Atty. JV Bautista and former Cong. Rodolfo Plaza, UNA deputy spokesperson.*