San Juan had the rare honor of making history last July 18 as the Bagong PilipinaseGovPHSerbisyo Hub, a one-stop shop for national government agencies and offices which will enable our constituents to have direct and convenient access to essential social services, was established in our Makabagong San Juan National Government Center. This is the first in the Philippines with no less than President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. gracing its unveiling.

It was a proud moment for us, San Juaneños — an honor I will always carry with deep gratitude. But even more meaningful are the opportunities it presents: to offer our city’s facility in the service of every Filipino and to rewrite how the government works for the people.

Let me take you back to where it all started.

Every public servant dreams of one thing: to leave a legacy of good governance.

In 2019, at the very start of my first term as mayor, I stood alongside my father, then-Congressman Ronny Zamora, and broke ground on what would become the Makabagong San Juan National Government Center. It was more than just our first large-scale public infrastructure development — it was a vision: to end the long lines, the endless commutes, and the frustration of dealing with fragmented government offices.

We wanted a one-stop shop where public service is faster, more accessible, convenient, and people-centered.

But the Covid-19 pandemic hit. Everything paused. We shifted our focus on saving lives. But we never abandoned the vision.

With resilience and the unwavering support of my sister, Congresswoman Bel Zamora, we picked up where we left off and pushed forward. And now, we stand here, six years later, with a national government center that is fully operational.

Here in this one-stop shop, the people of San Juan, and even those from neighboring cities and provinces can avail of national government services without having to go from office to office or city to city. Here, people can feel that their concerns are heard under one roof because they matter.

San Juan is very much honored to have a Bagong PilipinaseGovPHSerbisyo Hub. That is why we dedicated the entire second floor of this facility rent-free to accommodate 24 on-ground centers to bring together multiple government services in one location: the Presidential Action Center, Presidential Communications Office, 8888, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Migrant Workers, Department of Justice, Department of Information and Communications Technology, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Agriculture, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Social Security System, Pag-IBIG, PhilHealth, Philippine Statistics Authority, Public Attorney’s Office, National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine National Police, Anti Red Tape Authority, and the Land Transportation Office.

Complementing this physical extension of the eGovPH ecosystem is the eGovPH Super App, a mobile application that serves as a one-stop online shop which offers 47 integrated service modules.

By unifying services online and in physical hubs, public services from the government are now faster, simpler and more convenient for every Filipino.

This is our Bagong Pilipinas in action and with results. A government that meets people where they are. Systems that respect time. Services that deliver.

President Marcos said it best during the launch, “This is a new day. Finally, the Philippine Government, the Philippine Bureaucracy, our LGUs have moved into the 21st century.”

He is right. The future of governance is here where local government units can now take the lead in supporting national efforts by offering their infrastructure for programs of national significance.

Last July 29 and 30, we welcomed the post-SONA discussions at our modern Makabagong San Juan Theater inside our National Government Center. This event brought together all the departments of the national government and development clusters for a series of panel discussions aimed at deepening public understanding of the administration’s national priorities.

More than just a venue, our Makabagong San Juan National Government Center served as a symbol of how local and national collaboration can bring real programs closer to the people.

Our Makabagong San Juan National Government Center does not just serve the people of San Juan, it serves the nation as well. May it stand as a model for every municipality, city and province in the country as the Filipino people deserve better.

The eGovPH initiative is not just a local victory but a system that is changing how the people see their government as a center of innovation and of public service that truly meets the needs of the modern Filipino.

Thank you very much President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, for believing in this vision and for continuing to champion local development projects like this. Your full support which has allowed us to finish this major infrastructure project has changed the paradigm and framework of how good governance and public service can be executed.

This is how the local and national government work best — side by side, for every Filipino. This is how public service should be.

Come see it in action at the Makabagong San Juan National Government Center located at Pinaglabanan Road, City of San Juan, Metro Manila.