“Sa Lungsod ng Biñan, pamahalaan ay nagkakaisa, kaya’t pinagkakatiwalaan.”
Eight months into the term of Biñan City, Laguna Mayor Gel Alonte, it is now clear that his administration has earned the trust and confidence not only of national government agencies but also of the private sector.
The result, Alonte himself bared in an interview with OpinYon Laguna: more programs and projects that will benefit not only Biñanenses but also residents of nearby cities in the long run.
Linkages
One such project that is expected to ease the daily lives of residents of Biñan City is the planned Carmona-Biñan Link Road.
Recently, both Alonte and Representative Arman Dimaguila announced that they are now in talks with officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Greenfield Development Corporation (GDC) for the construction of a bypass road that will link Barangay Mamplasan with Carmona City, Cavite.
"Kapag nabuksan na po itong Biñan-Carmona Link Road, malaking bagay po ito para sa ating mga motorista at commuter," Alonte told OpinYon Laguna.
The planned road is expected to provide residents of the expanding residential areas in Carmona City with a direct route to the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), bypassing Governor's Drive.
Alonte added that they are now in negotiations with GDC, DPWH and the local government of Carmona City in order to fast-track the completion of the new road.
“Actually po, nakapagsimula na po tayo ng construction… Ngayon nga, katuwang kami, ang LGU at national government officials para po mapabilis ang proseso ng pag-aacquire ng lupa para dito,” he said.
Aside from the planned Carmona-Biñan Link Road, Alonte, along with Vice Mayor Dada Reyes and Representative Dimaguila also met with DPWH officials to discuss long-term solutions to the problem of flooding in the city’s coastal barangays of Dela Paz and Malaban.
“Naghain tayo ng mga proposals sa mga opisyal ng DPWH, kagaya ng permanenteng pumping station at road canal network sa Barangay Dela Paz,” Dimaguila reported in his social media page. “Pinag-aarlan na nila ito upang masimulan na ang mga proyektong ito sa lalong madaling panahon.”
Trust between nat’l, local officials
For Alonte, the recent discussions with DPWH officials – both on the Carmona-Biñan Link Road and the long-standing issue of flooding in the city – are indicative of the increased trust of national government officials in the local government.
This trust is especially crucial at a time when the DPWH is currently under a cloud of public mistrust and suspicion due to accusations of corruption and incompetence in building vital public infrastructure.
“Siguro po, ang malaking difference ngayon ay halos lahat ng proyekto ng national government agencies, dadaan muna sa atin, sa LGU. At tayo naman po, gusto natin yung progress ng bawat isa, hindi lang naman ng sarili natin,” the city executive pointed out.
Alonte hailed this as an achievement in the vision, shared by all local officials in the city, of continued socio-economic progress under the “Galing at Epektibong Lingkod” public service.
“Naniniwala po ako na kapag naayos na rin po ito, isa itong malaking achievement para sa ating lungsod. Dahil hindi lang natulungan natin ang ating mga negosyante dito, kundi ang ating mga constituents, talagang matutulungan din natin sila. So this is a sign of progress,” he added.
Trust among businesses
This also goes without saying that the eight months of the Alonte administration has also seen increased confidence of big businesses in the capability of the local government.
This was evidenced by what the city executive called “favorable” talks with Greenfield not only in the construction of the new link road, but also in increasing its investments in the city itself.
“Ako naman po naniniwala na willing pong makipag-usap ang mga kumpanyang ito sa atin, dahil nakikita nila na ang ginagawa naman po natin ay para sa lahat, hindi naman para sa amin lang,” Alonte pointed out.
In fact, he bared that Greenfield is setting its eyes on expanding its current industrial investments in the city – a move that will bring not only additional employment opportunities but also bolster the local government’s capabilities to serve Biñanenses.
To serve this growing need, the city government is also planning to explore partnerships with San Miguel Corporation (SMC) for a flyover that will give better access to the Laguna International Industrial Park (LIIP) in Barangay Mamplasan.
Through such projects, Alonte sees greater opportunities for economic growth.
“Kapag natapos po ang proyektong ito, hindi lang naman po mga taga-Biñan lang ang makikinabang. Hopefully, yung businesses nila, yung properties nila, mag-eexpand din,” he said.
'Gobyernong nakikinig'
Another factor in this increased trust, Alonte stressed, is the willingness of the city's leaders, including Vice Mayor Reyes and Representative Dimaguila, to listen to suggestions from various sectors on how to improve their performance.
Fulfilling a pledge Alonte made in his inauguration last June 2025, the current “Big Three” leaders of the city has proved that in order to effectively govern, leaders must lend an open ear.
“Siguro po, isang bagay na nakatulong sa atin ay ang kakayahan nating making,” he told OpinYon Laguna.
“At kapag nakikinig po tayo, siyempre, iniisip po natin yung naririnig natin, isinasapuso, at pinag-aaralan kung Maganda ang magiging kinalabasan.”
This willingness to listen, Alonte believes, is the chief ingredient of the unity between the city’s leaders – a unity that has bolstered the trust not only of their constituents but also of the various stakeholders who have partnered with the local government.
“Sabi ko nga lagi, ano yung mas tingin natin mapapa-improve pa natin yung ating city? Gagawin po natin yan. ‘Yun naman lang para sa atin po. Kung ano yung problema, tutukan natin. ‘Yun ang pagtutuunan natin para at least kapag naayos yan, unti-unti, harmonious, kapag naayos natin ‘yan,” he emphasized.
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