“Ang ating lungsod ay natatangi dahil sa ating malasakit, sa ating dangal, at sa ating pagmamahalan bilang isang komunidad. Kaya muli kong ibinabalik sa inyo ang pangakong ito: tatlong taon ng ‘Tatak Gel,’ ng Galing at Epektibong Lingkod.”
Thus Biñan City Mayor Gel Alonte capped off his report on the programs and accomplishments of his administration in his first State of the City Address (SOCA) at the Alonte Sports Arena last October 8.
Aside from his report on the major programs of his administration in its first 100 days, Alonte also took the opportunity to inaugurate – and jumpstart – the major infrastructure programs that will serve as concrete proof of his “Galing at Epektibong Lingkod” brand of public service.
The local executive forged partnerships with schools and hospitals for the implementation and expansion of two key programs of the LGU: the Iskolar ng Biñan (INB) and the Health Assistance Program for Indigent Families (HAPI) programs.
In the afternoon, Alonte led the groundbreaking of two major socialized housing projects in Barangays Langkiwa and Timbao, as well as the opening of the Dialysis Center and the groundbreaking of the Biñan City Cancer Institute inside the Biñan City Hospital.
Challenges
In his speech, Alonte candidly acknowledged that his first 100 days were a challenging time for him as a first-time local executive.
The biggest challenge, he said, was the weeklong rains last July that once again flooded parts of Barangays Dela Paz and Malaban.
“Ang mga epekto nito ay ramdam pa rin natin hanggang ngayon, ngunit hindi natin hinayaang ito maging hadlang,” the city executive emphasized.
“Sa halip, ito ang nagpatunay na ang Biñanense ay matatag, laging handa, at kayang bumangon saan mang dalhin ng kapalaran.”
Aside from immediate relief and continued support for those affected by the floods, Alonte said that he, along with Vice Mayor Dada Reyes and Representative Arman Dimaguila, are now crafting long-term solutions to alleviate the issue of flooding in Biñan’s coastal barangays.
“Naitatag na rin natin ang committee para sa pagbuo ng Flood Control Master Plan at may proposal na rin tayong nirereserba upang matigil na ang pagbaha sa ilang barangay ng ating lungsod,” Alonte reported.
Social welfare
Data provided by Mayor Alonte’s office presents an impressive start for Alonte's first 100 days in office: 5,619 clients served at the Tatak GEL Care Center; 753 new Mayor's permits issued; 572 new HAPI cards released; 320 solo parents assisted; 148 medical cases assisted; 66 financial cases assisted; and 65 cataracts patients assisted.
This does not include the 579 solo parents and 1,441 senior citizens who were issued their IDs, as well as 3,839 residents who were able to access various financial assistance programs of the national government.
And, Alonte pledged, it will only get better for the city's underprivileged sectors.
“Sa ating mga lolo at lola dyan, yung pinangako kong 10,000 na nasa waitlist ng ating senior citizens, pagdating po ng December, kasama na po kayo sa makakatanggap ng local pension dito sa lungsod ng Biñan,” he said.
Aside from this, Alonte also reported the expansion of the city’s healthcare services, such as the opening of the new Biñan Dialysis Center; the groundbreaking of the Biñan City Cancer Institute; and the strengthening of immunization drives and mental health services for all Biñanenses.
In the field of education – long a key focus of the city government – the city mayor reported on the implementation and expansion of its key programs for its students, particularly the INB and the Artista at Atletang Biñanense College Scholarship (ABC) programs, as well as financial assistance for public-school teachers.
“Hindi lamang ito simpleng tulong, ito ang pinag-puhunan para sa susunod na henerasyon ng mga Biñanense,” Alonte pointed out.
Cultural development
In his speech, Alonte also stressed the continuation of the “culture-based development” that had landed Biñan City on the map as one of the leading tourist destinations in Laguna province.
Aside from the Biñan City Public Library that was reopened that same day, the city mayor also bared that the Biñan City Museum inside the Sentrong Pangkultra ng Biñan is set to reopen later this year. It should also be mentioned that the Biñan City Culture, History, Arts and Tourism Office (BCHATO) also received two major awards at the ATOP Pearl Awards of the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) this month.
“Muli, pinatunayan ng Biñan na ang ating kultura at sining ay yaman na hindi matatawaran,” he emphasized.
‘Galing at Epektibong Lingkod’
In all these projects and more, Alonte expressed his hope that despite the challenges of his first 100 days, Biñan City will remain true to its aim of becoming a city that is “buhay ang nakaraan, sumasalubong sa hinaharap.”
He also emphasized that he is mayor not just of one barangay, not just one political party or faction, but of all Biñanenses whom he had sworn to serve and empower.
“Titigil ba tayo dahil may baha? Hindi. Titigil ba tayo sa pagmamahal sa Biñan dahil may ilang kahinaan at kapintasan? Hinding-hindi. Sapagkat ang isang tunay na nagmamahal ay hindi sumusuko,” he stressed.
“Ang lahat ng ito ay bumabalik sa iisang salita: pagmamahal. Pagmamahal sa ating kultura, sa ating kapaligiran, sa ating mga anak, at higit sa lahat, pagmamahal sa ating mahal na lungsod ng Biñan. Ang pagmamahal na ito ang magdadala sa atin pasulong, tungo sa isang mas malakas, mas matatag, at mas magandang kinabukasan,” Alonte concluded.
(With additional report by Christian Magdaraog)
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