To upkeep the City’s progress and advancement, first-time Valenzuela City Mayor WES Gatchalian lays out his innovative projects and plans through his first City Development Council Meeting, October 6.

The City Development Council meeting aims to provide the executive committee the proposed project for the physical development of the City that can be a tool in setting direction for its socio-economic growth and service development.

Mayor WES laid out the City’s community development projects which are mostly road and drainage improvement for the calendar year 2023. Barangay Veinte Reales in District 1 has the biggest appropriation with Php 68 Million. While in District 2, Barangay Gen. T. de Leon was allocated the highest with Php 40 Million.

The budget appropriation for the City Development Plan will come from the 20% of the National Tax Allotment or previously referred as the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA).

Further, the local chief executive presented his flagship project dubbed as “Proyektong Kakaiba” that intents to attain the best quality of life for every Valenzuelanos as he aims to pursue a more liveable Valenzuela City.

Part of his major projects is the repair and development of the Valenzuela City Emergency Hospital (VCEH). The local chief executive recalled his inspection on the said hospital during his first week assumption of office, “Awang-awa ako sa sitwasyon ng mga pasyente natin. Kung noon binuo natin ito na  isa pinakamagandang ospital noong panahon ni Senator WIN, ngayon heavily dilapidated na po. Ang solusyon po natin, wala na kayong makikitang kama sa labas [hospital tents] ng Astrodome. Ginawan natin ng paraan na ipasok sila lahat sa loob ng emergency hospital.” (I feel sorry for the situation of our patients. We built it as the best hospital during the time of Senator WIN, now it is heavily dilapidated. Our solution is, you will no longer see beds outside the Astrodome. We managed to get them all into the emergency hospital.)

Amounting to Php 75 Million, Mayor WES wanted a full renovation for the VCEH. “Tayo po ay naglaan ng (We allocated) 75 million para (to) i-fully renovate ang (the) emergency hospital. From top to bottom”, Mayor WES told the committee.

Mayor WES then enumerated some of his major projects for the City. These includes the repair and improvement of the Polo Public Market, rehabilitation of Bahay Kalinga and Pag-asa, establishing Valenzuela Peace and Order Center and Youth Center, construction of Skate Park and Pocket Parks under NLEX Karuhatan flyover, building a modernized Central Kitchen, among others.

Several of these major projects are not included in the City Development Plan but rather an initiative of the City Mayor.

He announced that the Sangguniang Panglungsod will have a special session to approve all these laid future projects in the City.

These plans were formulated after the Executive-Legislative Agenda meeting on the first 100 days of Mayor WES Gatchalian and undergone consultation with the City’s stakeholders.

Present in the meeting were the City’s Chief of Staff Architect Benjie Gamaro, Chaiman of Committee on Appropriations Councilor Marlon Alejandrino, DILG – Valenzuela Director Mary Jane Nacario, City Development Planning Office Head Ms. Josefina Acurantes, the 33 Punong Barangays together with the Liga ng mga Barangay President Jonjon Bartoleme, and representatives from accredited NGOs in Valenzuela.

Mayor WES before adjourning the meeting took his chance to give updates about his pending project during his term as 1^st District Representative. He promised that all his on-going projects will be prioritized and will be finished shortly.

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