Wazzup Pilipinas!
Looking at the 2016 presidential candidates’ personal net worth is a good way to understand how they manage their wealth, and how they might manage the Philippine economy should they get elected.
There are only days left before the 2016 presidential elections, yet many voters continue to look for additional information regarding the candidates. While not the be-all-and-end-all in selecting the next national leader, their net worth is a good indicator of how they manage their personal wealth, and how that possibly translates into their ability to lead the growth of the Philippine economy should they get elected.
To that end, we list the individual net worth of Vice President Jejomar Binay, former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, and Senators Grace Poe-Llamanzares and Miriam Defensor Santiago based on their latest Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN), and attempt to quantify these by exploring the real estate possibilities that could be afforded by their personal wealth.
Total Assets:
Php283,963,237
Total Liabilities:
Php81,882,784
Estimated Net Worth:
Php202,080,453
Officially the richest of the 2016 presidential candidates,
most of former Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar
Roxas’ fortune was built from his time as an investment banker in New York, and
from being a scion of the Araneta-Roxas family, which has various business
interests and landholdings.
Residing in Metro Manila
It would make sense to invest in a home in Metro Manila for
someone like Mar Roxas. With finances like his, a home in Pasig is not out of
the question, like this six-bedroom, six-bathroom Valle Verde home currently on the market for
Php165,000,000.
Investing in the
Province of Capiz
Having served as Congressman of the First District of Capiz, an
easy assumption to make is that Mar Roxas would be interested in investing in
his home province. A net worth such as Roxas’ could accommodate the acquisition
of a 3,000-sqm mountain resort in Dumarao, Capiz, 23 times,
which is currently valued at Php8,500,000. This property features: family and barkada rooms, dormitories, swimming
pools, a grotto, and natural waterfalls.
Buying a Commercial Lot
Roxas previously went by the moniker Mr. Palengke in past political campaigns, and it would be an apt coincidence if he ever decided to invest
in a commercial lot to use as a public market. His
net worth would easily allow him to acquire such a space in A.S. Fortuna Street
in Mandaue City, Cebu (three of them, in fact), which is currently listed for
Php53,955,000. The 981-sqm lot is at a prime location, ideal for retail activity.
Mary Grace Sonora
Poe-Llamanzares
Total Assets:
Php126,955,615
Total Liabilities:
Php37,490,796
Estimated Net Worth:
Php89,464,819
The youngest candidate, Grace Poe’s SALN actually dropped from
her previous ranking, as assets inherited from her late father, movie star
Fernando Poe Jr., were removed due to a rule stating such properties should not
be declared. Still, she remains the second wealthiest with a fortune comprised
of investments and other assets.
Investing in Iloilo
Grace Poe was once an abandoned baby discovered in Iloilo City.
Should she ever want to reside in the city, she could do so from a
Php16,000,000 three-door apartment near the Jaro
Metropolitan Cathedral where she was found by a parish priest. With a total
floor area of 402-sqm, the property has three units with five or six bedrooms each,
making it an ideal rental investment as well.
Residing in Alabang
It is uncertain what Poe’s next step would be should she not
win the presidential elections. If she decides to retire from politics and
resume the type of living she had while in the United States, a good investment
would be on an American-style home in Portofino in Las Piñas.
With four bedrooms, an attic, a two-car garage, and a private inner courtyard,
its Php36,246,000 price is well within Poe’s budget.
Investing in Land for
Educational or Philanthropic Use
Also known as an educator and philanthropist, Poe could build
her legacy as such if she ever decided to forego politics. With her net worth,
she can buy a farm lot in Cebu. Currently valued at
Php35,000,000, it has an existing rest house and 26,622 sqm of land, which can
be dedicated to building an educational facility or remain as a farm where the
less fortunate can seek employment.
Miriam Defensor Santiago
Total Assets:
Php123,033,539
Total Liabilities:
Php50,000,000
Estimated Net Worth:
Php73,033,539
Widely recognized for having served in all three branches of
the Philippine government (judiciary, executive, and legislative), Miriam
Defensor Santiago is arguably the most qualified to hold office in Malacañang.
Her fortune has been mostly built on legal and political grounds that has
spanned over four decades.
A Residence for Sharing
Knowledge
The value of education is evident in Santiago, who has earned degrees
from multiple schools. As she is often invited to speak and share her legal and
political knowledge in different schools, it would be advantageous for her to
own this three-story home in Filinvest 2, which
features five bedrooms and six toilets and baths. Listed at Php16,000,000, the
home is 10 minutes away from University of the Philippines Diliman, one of
Santiago’s alma maters, where she taught law for 10 years.
Investing in Office
Space
Santiago’s career has been of pure legal work and local
politics. The most ideal real estate investment for her would then be an office
space in the event she wants to open another office for her legal practice. One
such property that fits her SALN would be a Php43,000,000 office space in the Salcedo Village, Makati.
Its floor area of 465 sqm is perfect for a large number of legal professionals.
Expectedly, the incumbent senator may prefer a space with a
better proximity to the Philippines’ different national offices, making Manila
the ideal locale for most firms. Santiago’s net worth would be enough for a
Php36,000,000 office space in Taft Avenue that features a building
size of 448 sqm.
Jejomar “Jojo” Cabauatan
Binay, Sr.
Total Assets:
Php76,301,436
Total Liabilities:
Php16,050,453
Estimated Net Worth:
Php60,250,983
Despite allegations of corruption and tax evasion, Jejomar
Binay is running for the country’s highest office after serving as vice
president since 2010. He has the longest tenure in politics among the
presidential candidates, and for the most part has amassed his wealth as a
career-politician.
A Home in Makati
Having served as Makati’s mayor since the 1980s (although briefly
interrupted when his wife won a single term), it is expected that Binay would
invest in the city he claims he had the biggest hand in developing. The city’s
properties are some of the priciest in the country, and Binay’s entire declared
net worth can be spent on just one Makati home, like one in Magallanes Village.
Boasting three bedrooms and a land size of 568 sqm, it is currently priced at
exactly Php60,000,000.
Commercial Spaces
Outside Makati CBD
Anyone with a high net worth should not make the mistake of not
investing commercially in Makati. As the country’s foremost financial district,
the returns are almost guaranteed for any commercial space. A net worth of
Php60 million is more than enough to get a good investment in the city, like a new five-story building in Makati’s Brgy. Tejeros.
With a land area of 590 sqm, it can accommodate a number of businesses, and its
selling price of Php26,380,200 leaves more of the Binay net worth to invest.
Invest on Island
Property
That additional investment could be on an island. As Binay
receives much scrutiny and allegations, he may want to consider living on a private island to distance himself from it
all. Currently listed on Lamudi is one in Bantayan, Cebu, with a land area of
5,011 sqm and has a selling price of Php25,000,000.
Rodrigo “Rody” Roa
Duterte
Total Assets:
Php22,971,732
Total Liabilities:
Php1,000,000
Estimated Net Worth:
Php21,971,732
Another career lawyer and politician, Rodrigo Duterte has
served as mayor of Davao City for seven terms (or over 22 years). Known for his
hard controversial stance on criminals and modest lifestyle, he is considered
the “poorest” of the presidential candidates with his comparatively small net
value.
A Larger Home in Davao
Duterte’s supporters have documented how the Davao mayor lives
modestly, so one who has served the city for more than two decades may want to
invest on a grander home. If he is to invest almost the entire Duterte net
value on a home, a five bedroom, five bathroom house and lot is
currently listed on Lamudi for Php15,900,000. It has a floor area of 328 sqm,
and features a master bedroom with a walk-in closet, and a laundry and service
area, among others.
Land for a Possible
Rehabilitation Center
Although controversially supportive of the extra-judicial
killings of habitual drug users and dealers, Duterte is also acknowledged for
having used city government funds to build a Php12 million drug rehabilitation
and treatment center, which provides 24-hour services. Should he decide to do
this as a private citizen, his net worth would be substantial for the purchase
of land in Davao City with the costliest listing on Lamudi being Php15,000,000,
and located near Bonifacio with a land area of 913 sqm.
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
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