In past years, both national and local governments in the Philippines have slowly changed their approach to governance.
Instead of just sitting in their government centers, where all powers are supposed to emanate, many leaders in the national and local level now strive to bring their governance to the people.
No less than President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. mirrored this new approach when he recently said, “Hindi ang lokal na pamahalaan ang dudulog sa Malacañang; ang Malacañang ang pupunta sa mamamayan.”
This same mindset is what inspired Biñan City, Laguna Vice Mayor Angelo “Gel” Alonte to start his “Kapihan sa Barangay” project last April 13.
The “Kapihan sa Barangay,” the local official shared to OpinYon Laguna, serves as an informal roundtable event in which (over coffee, of course), Alonte will personally meet not only local barangay leaders but also their residents in order to discuss various issues affecting their lives.
"Naisip ko itong 'Kapihan sa Barangay' upang makausap ang ating mga kababayan sa barangay level, and at the same time makita natin kung sino talaga ang higit na nangangailangan ng tulong ng lokal na pamahalaan at mabigyan natin sila ng pag-asa na makabangon mula sa kanilang mga problema," Alonte explained in an interview with OpinYon Laguna.
"Matagal ko na talagang gustong maisakatuparan ang programang ito, ngunit marami rin kasi kaming mga inasikasong ibang project, at nataon pa na tumama ang Covid-19 pandemic saka yung barangay elections noong 2023," the vice mayor shared.
To date, Alonte has visited five of Biñan City’s 24 barangays in his “Kapihan sa Barangay” program: Casile, Mamplasan, Loma, San Francisco, and Zapote.
Eye-opener
Alonte said the "Kapihan sa Barangay" has helped open his eyes to the issues and problems faced by various barangays in Biñan City, issues that had not been previously raised during the election campaign period.
"Kapag nangangampanya kasi kami, usually yung mga [barangay] leaders ang lagi naming nahaharap at nakakasalamuha," he noted. "Eto, parang grassroots talaga, yung mga taga-barangay mismo ang nagsasabi sa 'yo. At makikita mo talaga ang sitwasyon nila, na yun din naman ang gusto kong makita."
Alonte recounted an instance during which he encountered in a “Kapihan sa Barangay” in Barangay Zapote twin toddlers who were born blind, with their parents struggling to provide care for them, as well as what he encountered during a visit in Barangay San Francisco – children who have to walk down a narrow creek in order to reach their school.
“Doon ko nakikita yung mga kababayan natin na talagang nangangailangan ng agarang tulong. At doon talaga kami napapaisip kung anong angkop na tulong ang pwede nating maibigay sa kanila,” he explained.
So far, he added, the most important lesson he has learned from these series of talks is the importance of actually going outside the four walls of the City Hall and actively interacting with constituents, as they share their common goal of progress for Biñan City.
"It's also important rin for our barangay officials na ma-discuss na ang mga isyu na kinakaharap ng kani-kanilang lugar, kahit na hindi pa masyadong malala, para mabigyan na rin ng agarang solusyon ng ating lokal na pamahalaan," Alonte stressed.
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