“Panata kong makikinig at aaksyon agad. Panata kong magiging tapat, patas at makatao sa bawat desisyong aking pangungunahan.”
That was the pledge of Biñan City, Laguna Vice Mayor Jonalina “Dada” Reyes as she opened the inaugural session of the 20th Sangguniang Panglungsod of Biñan in a ceremony held last July 7.
The inaugural session, held at the Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista Hall at the City Hall complex, was also graced by newly-elected Mayor Angelo “Gel” Alonte, Representative Walfredo “Arman” Dimaguila, Jr., and former Representative Len Alonte, with Senator Bam Aquino as guest of honor.
In her first speech as presiding officer of the Sangguniang Panglungsod, Reyes promised her constituents that she will lead the local legislature in passing laws that will reflect not only the executive-legislative agenda of the new Alonte administration but also the united aspirations of every Biñanense.
“Sa ngalan ng pag-ibig ko para sa Lungsod ng Biñan, ipinapangako ko po na hindi ko sasayangin ang pagkakataong maglingkod. Ipaglalaban natin ang tama, iaalay ko ang galing at puso para sa bawat Biñanense,” she said.
Full support
Meanwhile, Mayor Alonte also pledged to lend his full support to Reyes and the Sangguniang Panglungsod as they carry out their mandate of passing laws that will ensure his vision of a Biñan City that is “makatao at makatarungan.”
Alonte, who had worked with Reyes during their respective terms as vice-mayor and councilor, expressed his belief that the 20th Sangguniang Panglungsod will stand for the principles of good governance and strong leadership.
“Batid ko rin sa lalim ng kanyang paninindigan, isang babae, isang leader na hindi matitinag sa mga hamon kundi lalong tumatatag para sa kanyang mga prinsipyo at paninindigang makatao. Kaya naman hindi ako magdadalawang-isip na ipahayag, dito ang inyong paglingkod ay buong-buong sumusuporta kay Vice Mayor Dada Reyes at sa buong Sangguniang Panglungsod,” he declared.
Education will be top priority
Senator Bam Aquino, for his part, hailed the full and ongoing support of the Biñan City government under past and present leaderships to the city’s education sector.
To recall, Dimaguila’s three terms as city mayor had seen the construction of multiple school buildings from elementary to senior high school, as well as expanding the capabilities and facilities of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines’ (PUP) Biñan campus.
Alonte himself has also pledged to continue and expand Dimaguila’s programs for the city’s education sector, which included plans to establish a Biñan City College.
“Sisiguraduhin po natin na ang bawat kabataan na nandito sa Biñan ay magkakaroon ng dekalidad at abot-kayang edukasyon – education worthy of our students and worthy of a modern and progressive Philippines," Aquino, who topped the list of winning senators in Laguna province in the May 12 elections, assured.
(Photo courtesy of the Biñan City Information Office)
#WeTakeAStand #OpinYon #OpinYonNews #MayorGelAlonte #ViceMayorDadaReyes #BiñanLGU