Vice President Manuel "Noli" de Castro is inching closer to running for the presidency under the administration party Lakas-Kampi-CMD, telling a forum Thursday that he has already abandoned the idea of running as an independent.

"May pag-uusap na. The President (Gloria Macapagal Arroyo) already implied the possibility of me running under the administration party. Pero wala pang committment," De Castro said.

He made the disclosure during the launch of Philippine Urban Consortium, the National Urban Development and Housing Framework, and the Partnership Agreement on a Strategic Framework of Assistance at the Crowne Plaza Galleria at the Ortigas Center.

However, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando said he will oppose De Castro’s selection as administration party standard bearer.

"Mali yun. Binigyan siya ng deadline ng partido to file his candidacy until July 30 of this year. Hindi naman siya nag-comply," Fernando said in a telephone interview with the Manila Bulletin.

Fernando also declined to be De Castro’s running mate.

"Walang ganun na usapan. I will definitely oppose such idea."

De Castro was earlier quoted as saying that he might run for the president as an independent, being the first independent senatorial topnotcher in 2001 and the first elected independent Vice-President in 2004.

De Castro is identified as a close ally of the administration and holds the title of housing czar as head of the Housing and Urban Development Development Council.

"Ever since I was a senator, I have been working closely with the administration party. Maswerte naman ako dahil masipag ang ating mahal na Presidente kaya kami naman natutotong magtrabaho," De Castro said.