MANILA - Former Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay will not only be serving as vice president of the country.  On July 20, he took an oath of office, administered by no less than President Benigno C. Aquino III, as chairman of the  Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) in Malacanang.

The vice-president's wife, Elenita, and his son, Makati Mayor Jun-Jun Binay witnessed the simple ceremony. He later joined President Aquino for a Cabinet meeting in the adjoining Aguinaldo State Dining Room.

As HUDCC chair, Binay oversees the agency's functions of coordinating the activities of the  government housing agencies to ensure  the accomplishment of the  National Shelter Program.  His responsibilities include, among others, the following:

-Formulating national objectives for housing and urban development and to design broad strategies for accomplishment of these objectives;

-Determining the participation and coordinate the activities of the key government housing agencies in the national housing program;

-Monitoring, reviewing and evaluating the effectively of these agencies’ exercise of their assigned functions;

-Assisting in the maximum participation of the private sector in all aspects of housing and urban development;

-Recommending new legislation and amendments to existing laws as may be necessary for the attainment of the government’s objective in housing;

-Formulating the basic policies, guidelines and implementing mechanisms for the disposal or development of acquired or existing assets of the key housing agencies; and,

-Exercising or performing other powers and functions as may be deemed necessary, proper or incidental to the attainment of its purpose and objectives.

Meanwhile, a new Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner may be appointed by Malacanang to replace outgoing Commissioner Marcelino Libanan.  His resignation, which took effect June 30, 2010,  was accepted by the president and his office immediately informed the office of Justice Secretary Leila De Lima.  The BI is an agency under the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Libanan served for three years following his appointment by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.  He replaced the then BI Commissioner Alipio Fernandez, Jr., who ran for mayor of Dagupan City.