The long wait is over: In response to the dream of Barangay Marulas leaders and officials, and its almost 80,000 people to have their own governance building they can call home, the local government and their congressional district joined forces to build a modern Barangay Hall which was inaugurated and blessed on Wednesday, May 25, 2022.

The four-storey Barangay Hall which costs around Php 65 million, including the furniture and fixtures, sits on an expropriated property with a total land area of 3,238 square meters.  It has a total floor area of. 2,485 square meters and feels like a “Mini City Hall”, as how Mayor Gatchalian described it.

Facilities inside include a Daycare Center, Conference Hall, Session hall, and a Multi-purpose Hall where events and assemblies can be held.  It also has a Command Center which is patterned after the city hall’s Command Center. It is where the CCTVs in the barangay can be monitored 24/7.

Apart from the Session Hall where the Kagawads can discuss policies for the benefit of their people, each of them got individual office spaces. A space was also given to the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Council led by Chairman Coleen De Vera for them to hold office and meetings to plan for the welfare of the youth.

Most of all, Kapitan Cocoy Espino got his own office which is a hundred times better than what he and the barangay staff used to have at the old Barangay Hall. The former Barangay Hall was a dilapidated old small building built on the property owned by the Sto. Cristo Parish.

Mayor REX Gathalian, in his speech during the inauguration, told everyone how important ‘unity’ is in running a government that chases for progress. According to him, great initiatives like this is the reflection and the fruit of the united efforts of the city government and its constituents.

“Lagi nating sinasabi ‘yung katagang ‘sa pagkakaisa, tuloy ang progreso’. Itong proyekto na ‘to ay manipestasyon [na] ‘pag nagkaisa ang inyong mga nanunungkulan at ang komunidad, may progreso”, Mayor REX Gathalian said. [We always say the phrase ‘in unity, progress continues’. This project is a manifestation [that] when your officials and the community work together, there will be progress.]

Deputy Speaker Cong. Eric Martinez, on the other hand, recollected on their struggles in the past.  He said that having such establishment in the barangay is the birth child of their hard work and is surely a great attribute for the betterment of the people.

Kap. Cocoy shared how overwhelmed he is to see a more enticing office they now have. Searching for words, he told everyone his happines and a great feel of relief that they finally have their own land compared from being “informal settlers” way back when they were still occupying the old Barangay Hall.

The blessing was also attended by Vice Mayor Lorie Natividad-Borja, City Councilors Chiqui Carreon, Louie Nolasco, Mickey Pineda, Sel Sabino-Sy, Niña Lopez, Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Chairman Coleen De Vera and council. Also present to witness the milestone were Purok Leaders and Lupon from Barangay Marulas and some of the Barangay Captains from different barangays in Valenzuela City.