Vice President Jejomar Binay has tapped actor Robin Padilla as the Special Assistant for the housing sector in the Muslim Mindanao area.

Padilla made a courtesy visit to the Office of the Vice President (OVP) Thursday, where he expressed his willingness to work with the government, particularly with the Vice President’s projects in the housing sector in Muslim Mindanao.

“Sa pag ikot ko sa aming advocacy sa HUDCC, papakiusapan kong sumama siya sa pagpunta namin sa mga Muslim area, isang paraan para magkaroon ng good relations with the Muslim community so nagbabalak kami sa pagsama ni Robin sa pagpunta sa mga community na yun [In going around the regions in line with our advocacy at the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council or HUDCC, we will be asking Robin (Padilla) to come with us in going to Muslim communities, which is one of the ways to have good relations between the government and the Muslim communities so we are planning to take Robin with us there],” Binay said.

“Si Robin naman eh panay ang pagpunta sa mga lugar na yun eh, laging handang tumulong [Robin frequents that area and he is always willing to help],” he added.

For his part, Padilla said that he is willing to help the Vice President and housing czar in his advocacies, adding that he believes in the Vice President’s capacity to help the lowly, citing his success as the previous mayor of Makati City.

Padilla was among those who supported Binay when he ran for Vice President in the May 2010 national elections. Binay said he is indebted to Padilla for helping him in the campaign, particularly in the Muslim communities.