Historical Background

General Mariano Alvarez, the newest town of Cavite is formerly a part of the Municipality of Carmona. This new Municipality was named after General Mariano Alvarez, one of the foremost sons of Cavite, in the town of Noveleta during the revolution. It is previously called Carmona Resettlement Project. This project started in March 1968 because of the need to clear Quezon Memorial Park in Diliman, Quezon City of squatter’s shanties and other illegal constructions situated in it. The People’s Homesite and Housing Corporation (PHHC) prepared the basic development concepts with the National Planning Commission (NPC) and the Department of Health (DOH). The group prescribed a minimum size of 12 x 12 or 144 square meters per relocated family.

The 51st Engineering Brigade of the 514th Engineering Batallion of the Philippine Army, started to build the access road and later the roads within the projects were also provided. National Waterworks and Sewerage Administration (NWSA) with the US AID started drilling wells on May 10, 1968, the PHHC and PAHRA completed the construction of temporary office buildings. Demolition teams were formed by the National Parks and Wildlife Commission and were furnished with equipments by the Quezon City Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). On July 3,1968, the first seven families were admitted in the project. The Department of Social Welfare provided free food at the demolition site and three-day food rations to the admitted families in the project. During the month of July 1968, the Department of Health set up clinics, while the Department of Education started holding elementary and secondary classes, namely San Gabriel I Elementary School, San Gabriel II Elementary School, San Gabriel III Elementary School, San Jose Elementary School and Carmona Relocation Center High School and San Jose Community High School.

More informal settlers/families from esteros, flood and fire victims from Quezon City, Manila, Makati and Parañaque were transferred from 1970 to 1972. By the first week of January 1973, the 7,840 lots were considered filled up.
Since San Jose and San Gabriel were converted into resettlement areas, the said localities have been provided by the government with infrastructures such as school buildings, rural health units, roads and bridges, chapel, electricity, waterworks system, civic and government centers, commercial and industrial centers. Sometime in 1970, Carmona Community Resettlement Council came into existence with the exception of Barangay San Jose under Barangay Chairman Hon. PATERNO J. GARALZA, while Areas C, D, E, F, G, H , I, J and K with assignee leaders called Community Area Chairman, until late 1973 positions of Barangay Chairpersons existed commencing at Area J Zone 9 thru
viva-voce spearheaded by then Hon. CESAR CASAL, the incumbent Mayor of Carmona.

In 1974, through the initiative of all the Barangay Chairpersons of then San Gabriel, Carmona, Cavite, an Association of Barangay Leaders was formally organized with Hon. RICARDO AGRAVIO and Hon ALFREDO DIAZ, as chairpersons alternately. The unity was tested by the outbreak of shortage of all essential commodities such as rice, sugar, edible oil and others. An agreement was reached and thru Barangay Secretary of Area J, WALTER D. ECHEVARRIA, JR., official assigned to source funds to expedite the request for the supply of commodities and Barangay stores started with allocation of 150 cavans (100kilos per cavan worth P 150.00) per week, as quota for the whole, of now General Mariano Alvarez.
There are several business enterprises operating in the area which adequately meet the employment needs of the resident therein, and one is the 1st movie house “The Vision Cinema” owned by Mr. DOMINADOR G. VIRATA, managed by Mr. LEONISO G. VIRATA, who emerged as the 1st Mayor, of General Mariano Alvarez in 1981 upon separation from Carmona as on independent municipality.
The First Cavite Electric Company put up electrical lines and later through a referendum, MERALCO took the management.
Due to popular clamor of the residents of the aforesaid resettlement area towards conversion of the area into a new Municipality, the SANGGUNIANG BAYAN of CARMONA upon request of Governor JUANITO R. REMULLA favorably endorsed RESOLUTION NO.56, Series of 1977 and RESOLUTION NO. 13, Series of 1978.
It was duly approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of the Province of Cavite, through Sangguniang Panlalawigan Resolution, by their presiding officer, the Governor of Cavite.

The proposed Municipality of General Mariano Alvarez is the brain-child of both Assembly-Woman HELENA Z. BENITEZ of the  First District of CAVITE and Hon. JOSE A. ROÑO, Minister of Local Government and majority floor leader of the BATASANG PAMBANSA.  These two distinguished lawmakers co-authored the BATASANG Bill (PANUKALANG Batas) seeking to create the new town.   Miss  Benitez was aided by Assemblyman JORGE NUÑEZ (2nd District of Cavite) in alternately sponsoring the bill and handling its passage through the Committee Hearings and Assembly sessions.

The Municipality of General Mariano Alvarez   became in existence upon the ratification by majority of the votes cast in plebiscite conducted at Carmona and General Mariano Alvarez within a period of 80 days after approval on June 13, 1980 of BATAS PAMBANSA Blg. 75.  Parliamentary Bill No. 631 after which the President of the Republic of the Philippines His Excellency President FERDINAND E. MARCOS   appointed upon recommendation of Governor JUANITO REMULLA, the first set of municipal officials of the said community.  The record of the canvass showed that 7, 436 votes were cast  in favor of and 4,675 were cast against and 225 abstention votes. It is of interest to note that in Carmona the YES vote is zero, NO vote is 100%,  while in San Jose and San Gabriel General Mariano Alvarez, YES vote is 100% while the NO vote is zero. Governor REMULLA supervised the plebiscite.

Upon affectivity of this Act, the proportionate share of the Municipality of General Mariano Alvarez in the obligation funds, assets and other properties of Carmona was transferred to the newly created municipality upon the recommendation of the Commission on Audit.

The first fund of GMA is the seed money contributed by the Provincial Government through Governor JUANITO REMULLA.  The Municipal Treasurer of Carmona has estimated that the income of San Jose and San Gabriel, during the first years of operation as a new Municipality would reach to P 182,500.00 per annum coming from operation and municipal services.  This moreover, is anticipated to increase greatly in later years, considering the potentials of the locality concerned

Inauguration and oath-taking ceremonies of the newly-appointed officials of General Mariano Alvarez took place on March 14,1981 at Carmona Relocation Center High School with Hon. JOSE A. ROÑO, Minister, Ministry of Local Government and Community Development inducted the new General Mariano Alvarez set  of  Municipal Officials, Mayor LEONISO G. VIRATA, Vice Mayor PERFECTA Z. CALIX,  SANGGUNIANG  BAYAN Members, ALFREDO C. DIAZ, PATERNO J. GARALZA, TOMAS E. ABUEG, NICARTE A. SWANSON, VIRGILIO T. ANCERO, MITO B. CASTELO, PABLO P. GARACHICHO and MANUEL B. LARA.  MR. EDUARDO ULITIN was the ABC President and MA. ANTONIETTA Y. ORACION, was the KB Chairwoman. The Provincial  Government  of  Cavite,  nursed and guided the newest Municipality – General Mariano Alvarez until General Mariano Alvarez  grew  into  a full  blown municipality.

The Municipality of General Mariano Alvarez, Cavite originally comprises the resettlement areas of the National Housing Authority in Barangays  San Jose, San Gabriel and a portion of  Cabilang Baybay.   San Jose consist of 2 areas A & B while San Gabriel – C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J and K.  By  an  ordinance passed by the Provincial Government of Cavite in General Mariano Alvarez (GMA) and recommended by the municipal officials headed by Mayor LEONISO G. VIRATA, the whole General Mariano Alvarez (GMA)  was divided into 27 barangays all named after revolutionary leaders and followers of General Mariano Alvarez,  all upon suggestions made by Governor JUANITO R. REMULLA, a referendum was held affirming the creation of twenty seven (27) barangays. On March 25, by virtue of legislative and administrative act a referendum was held creating twenty seven (27) duly constituted barangays out of the original ten (10) barangays comprising the resettlement area. And on June 27, 1985 a mass oath-taking of barangay officials for the 27 barangays was held.

Philippine National Railways Commuter trains which makes approximately thirteen (13) trips to General Mariano Alvarez, and its station located at Barangay Nicolasa Virata, provide alternative model access to the town, until later on various means of transportation were used by the residents.

As the current administration steered the Municipality of General Mariano Alvarez to full development and upliftment this Comprehensive Land Use Plan shall serve as guide and blueprint to ensure that the Mission, Vision and Goals of the Government and its constituents are achieved within the planning period and beyond.

And now, GMA is a developed community through the untiring efforts of our Municipal Officials, and the leadership  of Hon. WALTER D. ECHEVARRIA. JR. Municipal Mayor, General Mariano Alvarez.