Efforts of the City Government of Valenzuela in giving quality public services to its constituents were once again recognized through four awards bestowed to the city in the month of July.

Metro Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MMDRRMC) and the Office of the Civil Defense - National Capital Region (OCD-NCR) awarded the Valenzuela City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (VCDRRMO) - Urban Search & Rescue Unit the Gawad KALASAG 2017 NCR for the Best Government Emergency Management Service (GEMS) in NCR on July 31, 2017.

Gawad KALASAG or (KAlamidad at Sakuna LAbanan, SAriling Galing ang Kaligtasan) is the country’s premiere search for excellence in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, and Humanitarian Assistance.

During the awarding ceremonies held at the Novotel Manila in Quezon City, OCD-NCR Director MGEN Romulo Cabantac, Jr. commended the VCDRRMO team for their immediate response during the Mabini, Batangas quake, “right after the quake, the Valenzuela Rescue Team immediately put up an Incident Command System (ICS) post in the area, whereas the Batangas rescue unit arrived eight hours after. Valenzuela City is a testament that the National Capital Region is a model in establishing an ICS.”

Valenzuela City is the recipient of the award for two consecutive years. 

The Valenzuela City Public Employment Service Office (PESO), on the other hand, has been consistently on the ranks of the best PESOs in NCR, and in July 5, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has once again recognized the office after garnering an overall rating of 97%, making it the Best PESO in NCR for 2017. 

Consequently, Valenzuela City is the region’s bet in the national search for the highly urbanized city category.

Furthermore, on July 18, the city government received Local Government Unit e-Readiness Leadership Award during the Electronic Business Permits and Licensing Summit held at Novotel Manila in Quezon City, and on July 19, the Seal of Child Friendly Local Governance during the Regional Awarding and Conferment Ceremonies held at the Muntinlupa Sports Complex.

The City has been constantly scoring excellently in the Child Friendly Local Governance Audit (CFLGA) since its implementation in 2014, allowing the city to receive the Seal.  CGLGA is a tool that assesses the performance of LGUs in delivery of social services that promote the welfare of children.

Also for the second time around, Valenzuela City Government and Mayor REX Gatchalian bagged the LGU e-Readiness Award 2017 which it previously got in 2014.

The award recognizes local chief executives who are pioneering the adoption and strategic use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to enhance the delivery of government services, improve revenue/tax collection efforts, hasten business permits application and renewal processes, and to promote transparency in government operations.

City Mayor REX Gatchalian said that these harvest of recognitions in the month of July are evidences that the City is truly a hub of local governance best practices.