Valenzuela is once again cited as an outstanding local government unit (LGU) in providing high quality basic education with the conferment of the first Seal of Good Education Governance during the 11^th National Education Summit held at the Philippine International Convention Center, September 29. 

The holistic and systemic approach of the city’s revolutionary flagship project to education, the Education 360 Degrees Investment Program, aims to push for world-class public education system to the Valenzuelano youth. The program, instituted in 2013, does not only rely on hardware and infrastructure development, but also on all other student-centered aspects that affect the learning process of the child. 

Mayor REX Gatchalian, who has always been a champion for quality education, attributes the program’s success to the local government’s staunch advocacy and commitment to basic education. The city government took the initiative to be a partner of the national government for education advocacies. The city’s Special Education Fund (SEF) is around PhP 500 million to PhP 600 million, plus about PhP 100 million from the general fund, totaling to P700 million annual budget for education, instantly meeting first criteria for the award. 

The participating LGUs were judged in the city-wide performance in the National Achievement Test scores of elementary school children and the percentage of grade school completers should be higher than the national average of 70%. Likewise, the LGUs must have a 15% decrease of non-readers and frustrated readers. Elementary school completion rate of Valenzuela City is at 97.52%. Likewise, through the annual Summer Reading Camp, the number of non-readers and frustrated readers has been decreased to 96%. 

From 250 participating local government units in the country, Valenzuela is the only LGU in Metropolitan Manila to receive the award along with 23 other LGUs nationwide. Synergeia Foundation will grant the citation annually from hence on, with a PhP 1.5 million educational package from PLDT Smart Communications. 

In 2015, the Galing Pook Foundation also recognized the same education program as one of the ten most outstanding programs for innovation in good local governance. 

Furthermore, in 2016, it was recognized internationally as one of the “30 Deserving Cities” of the Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation. 

The first batch of awardees were: Alimodan, Iloilo; Argao, Cebu; Bacnotan, La Union; Balamban, Cebu; Bongao, Tawi-Tawi; Cabatuan, Iloilo; Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental; Concepcion, Iloilo; Dalaguete, Cebu; Dao, Capiz; DatuPaglas, Maguindanao; Diadi, Nueva Vizcaya; Diffun, Quirino; Ivisan, Capiz; Lambunao, Iloilo; Miagao, Iloilo; Mina, Iloilo; North Upi, Maguindanao; Santol, La Union; Simunul, Tawi- Tawi; Solano, Nueva Vizcaya; Villaverde, Nueva Vizcaya and Tuba, Benguet.