It was supposed to be only a simple seawall designed to hold back the floodwaters that had plagued residents of coastal barangays in Biñan City, Laguna.
But who would’ve thought that it can be transformed into another spot for Biñanenses to relax and unwind?
Last Tuesday, March 19, the city government led by Mayor Arman Dimaguila and Vice Mayor Gel Alonte officially inaugurated the Biñan Lakeshore project at Barangay Dela Paz.
The project is a 325-meter stretch of the seawall along the Laguna de Bay, constructed through the initiative of the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) and Biñan City Representative Len Alonte, that underwent beautification from the city government.
The result is an “Instagrammable” lakeshore promenade that would equal – maybe even rival – the Baywalk along Roxas Boulevard in Manila, as well as other seaside developments in the Philippines.
Spontaneous idea
The idea of the Biñan Lakeshore came as a “spontaneous” thought stemming from another development project spearheaded by the city government that was already under construction in Barangay Dela Paz.
Originally called the Biñan Esplanade, the complex consists of a new Biñan City Jail and other government facilities, as well as basketball and tennis courts, a world-class park, an amphitheater and a commercial complex.
“Nais po ng pamahalaang lungsod na bigyan ng mukha ang Barangay Dela Paz, lalo na’t noon ay nakikilala lamang ang barangay dahil lagi itong binabaha,” was how Vice Mayor Alonte said in his speech during the event.
Somewhere along the line, however, Dimaguila seized upon the idea of turning the seawall along the shore of Laguna de Bay into a place where Biñanenses could just sit back and relax, as well as nurture new talents.
“Ang proyektong ito ay proyektong walang plano,” the city mayor himself noted. “Napansin ko lang po kasi doon sa ginawang seawall na maraming namimingwit dito, tapos doon po namin naisip na gawan ng plano [para maging parke ito].”
Experts’ help
That was when he called on a group of experts – Engineers Robert Uy and Louie Cerico and Architects Elwin Carlet and Ernest de Guzman, all residents of Biñan City – to discuss his concept for the Biñan Lakeshore.
“Biglaan na lang po kaming nag-usap ni Mayor Dimaguila, doon po natin naisip na lagyan ng design yung seawall dahil napaka-plain po,” the group explained in a separate interview with OpinYon Laguna.
The group added that it was Dimaguila himself who conceptualized the design of the lakeshore park – a “retro” Spanish-era type plaza that was modeled after the Historic Alberto Mansion, down to the “Vigan”-style tiles.
“Ang instructions po sa amin ni Mayor, yung design po ng mga building, particularly yung bagong City Jail, medyo Spanish-era type, hindi modern. From there, doon na po naming sinimulan yung pagdidisenyo nitong lugar,” they explained.
Best kept-secret
What’s more astounding is that, despite public knowledge about the Biñan Esplanade project, the construction of the Lakeshore area itself became one of the city government’s “best-kept” secrets.
It was not, however, until the “Araw ng Biñan” this year that pictures of the lakeshore project were officially uploaded on social media – and that was when other LGUs started taking interest in the project.
“Tumawag sa akin si Cong. Len Alonte. Sabi niya, nagtatanong raw si Mayor [Ruffy Biazon] ng Muntinlupa, tapos mga opisyal raw ng San Pedro nagpuntahan rin dito, gustong malaman kung paano natin ito nagawa,” the city mayor related in his speech.
Dimaguila also became candid about taking the credit for the project, which he insisted is the primary work of Rep. Alonte and the national government.
“Ang nakita lang po natin dito ay pwede pa nating pagandahin, so pinaganda natin,” was how he put it.
Opportunities
With the need for open spaces where local residents can relax, the Biñan Lakeshore has now rivaled the Plaza Rizal in downtown Biñan City for the title of the city’s most “picturesque” spots on social media.
Not only that, Dimaguila added that like the Plaza Rizal, the Biñan Lakeshore can act as a catalyst for economic development and livelihood for residents of Barangay Dela Paz.
In fact, the city government will soon turn over the maintenance of the Biñan Lakeshore the local government of Barangay Dela Paz to ensure that locals will get the full advantage of hosting one of the city’s newest attractions.
With the new Biñan Lakeshore and the development of another multipurpose site in nearby Barangay Malaban, Dimaguila said the ultimate goal of the city government is to transform the image of Biñan City’s coastal barangays: from flood-prone eyesores to leaders in socio-economic development in the city.
“Sa katunayan nga po, we’ve decided na ang magtitinda lang po dito ay mga residente ng Barangay Dela Paz – may gagawin pong [ordinansa] ang Sangguniang Barangay tungkol diyan. Bigyan po natin ng pagkakataon na makapaghanapbuhay ang mga residente ng barangay,” he adde
#WeTakeAStand #OpinYon #BiñanLGU #LakeshoreParkatBiñan