DILG-NCR’s Urban Governance Exemplary Awards celebrates Valenzuela City’s continued excellence in public service—along with its proactive efforts in maintaining a transparent, inclusive, and outcome-oriented governance. Additionally, the city's strong reputation for consistently receiving high scores in different regional and national evaluations—covering areas like peace and order, anti-drug programs, child protection, environmental standards, and local lawmaking—demonstrates effective leadership and innovation in implementing policies that directly benefit its constituents.

Valenzuela City took home 6 categorial awards from the said award-giving body, further marking itself as one of the top-performing local government units. The awards ran down to the specific areas where the city excelled in public service.

The awards received by Valenzuela City include:

TOP PERFORMER - Local Council for the Protection of Children (LCPC) Performance Year 2024: 

• Recognizing the city’s efficient implementation of programs that safeguard the welfare and rights of children through proactive policies.

TOP PERFORMER - Local Committee on Anti-Trafficking and Violence Against Women and Their Children (LCAT – VAWC) Functionality Audit:

• Acknowledging Valenzuela City’s initiatives in protecting women and children against all forms of abuse and exploitation.

HIGHLY COMPLIANT – Manila Bay Clean-Up, Rehabilitation, and Preservation (MBCRP) LGU Compliance Assessment:

• Commending of the city’s active participation and sustained efforts in environmental conservation—particularly in the cleanup and rehabilitation of the Manila Bay area.

TOP PERFORMER (INFORMAL SETTLER FAMILIES CLUSTER) - MBCRP LGU Compliance Assessment:

• Celebrating Valenzuela City’s excellent programs in addressing housing and relocation concerns for informal settler families (ISFs).

SIGNIFICANT AND INVALUABLE PARTNER – Peace and Order Council (POC) and Anti-Drug Abuse Council (ADAC)

• Recognizing the city’s unceasing support and effective collaboration in maintaining peace, order, and drug-free communities through preventive enforcement strategies.

EXEMPLARY PERFORMANCE – Local Legislative Award

• Commending the local legislators who have gone above and beyond and have demonstrated excellence in legislative work and policy-making.

Valenzuela City Government, through Mayor WES Gatchalian, sails out to continue providing the best services that the city could offer to its constituents—and these awards serve as the ultimate testaments of the city’s commitment to building a safe, inclusive, and progressive community.

The awards were received by Councilor Lorie Natividad-Borja, Councilor Niña Lopez, Chief of Staff on Social Welfare Operations Ms. Dorothy Go-Evangelista, Housing and Resettlement Office (HRO) Head Elenita Reyes, City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Head Rachelle Torres, Valenzuela City Anti-Drug Abuse Office (VADAO) Preventive Education Officer Elver Cleofe, and DILG-Valenzuela City Director Sudi Valencia.

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The new facility was inaugurated to reinforce the City Government's commitment to building a competent and certified community health workforce. The Center will serve as the first LGU-funded, in-house TESDA-accredited training and assessment center for BHWs in the country, enabling the city to conduct training and accreditation internally by its own trainers. Thus, making Valenzuela the first local government unit in the country to have its own in-house TESDA accredited trainers for BHWs and its own LGU-funded TESDA-accredited assessment and training center.

The project emerged from a successful partnership between the City Government of Valenzuela and the Synergeia Foundation. The training path began in 2022, when the first batch of BHWs completed the TESDA BHS NC II certification with support from Synergeia and Johnson & Johnson. Today's ceremony recognized 139 of the 310 TESDA-NC II-accredited BHWs from among the City's total of 331 barangay health workers.

All city-funded BHWs are set to receive starter BHW kits containing basic healthcare materials to support their duties as frontline health workers. BHWs serve as the first point of contact for constituents needing medical attention, in line with the city's mission to strengthen its community-based health service network.

The newly accredited BHWs underwent training under the framework of the City Health Office in partnership with TESDA and the Synergeia Foundation. The Assessment Center allows for scheduling of TESDA competency assessments within the City, thereby reducing turnaround time and costs and promoting greater accessibility to certification.

In his message during the event, Mayor WES proudly said "Gusto po natin na makilala tayo hindi lang bilang isang industrial city kundi maging isang liveable city at ang prayoridad natin jan ay ang maayos na health program. Kasama po dito ay nakapagbukas na tayo ng dalawang Sentro Health Hubs na bukas mula lunes hanggang linggo kahit na holiday. Kaya naman I am very proud dahil kayo ang bubuo sa ating overall health program, kayo ang pinaka importanteng tao sa ating health sector dahil kayo ang umiikot sa bawat lugar, sa bawat purok, at kayo po ang pinakamagaling sa health promotions."

With the launch of the Assessment and Training Center, Valenzuela City reiterates its commitment to elevating the capacity of its health workforce and ensuring that each Pamilyang Valenzuelano has access to competent healthcare at the barangay level.

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