A man of his word, Caloocan City’s new chief executive Dale Gonzalo “Along” Malapitan, consistently sets his administration to deliver its promises to the people — setting the bar higher for good governance and accountability.

Under his directive, the local government gears toward economic recovery and has already conducted two Mega Job Fairs and non-stop local recruitment activities that aim to provide 20,000 job opportunities for its residents. In line with this, the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) conducts regular livelihood training programs in communities, targeting those who are staying at home, encouraging them to start their own micro businesses. For solo parents, out-of-school youth, high school graduates, senior citizens and persons with disability (PWDs), the Caloocan City Manpower Training Center (CCMTC) provides free NC-II (National Certification II) trainings that utilizes face-to-face and online learning modules for short courses which include basic computer operations, culinary and cosmetology.

As the city mayor of over 1.7 million residents, Along Malapitan prioritizes the safety of his residents above all. He personally met with Caloocan City Police Station (CCPS) and during the Command Conference attended by CCPS Chief Col. Samuel Mina, he instructed to maintain peace and order and ensure police visibility in Caloocan’s public areas including schools and markets, as well as its main roads and alleyways. Mayor Along maintained a strong stance against illegal drugs and crime and in coordination with the CCPS, continuous operations are conducted to apprehend most wanted suspects in the city.

As part of the multifaceted approach of Caloocan LGU to combat the effects of the pandemic, Mayor Along instructed several departments to support vulnerable sectors; solo parents and PWDs receive five kilograms of rice from the city to aid in their daily needs. To assist the needs of the people in terms of medical, laboratory and burial assistance, Mayor Along sustains the People’s Day program, targeting the indigent population.

With the fast-changing times, Caloocan takes on an alternative approach of online payments for business and real property taxes through GCash. As Mayor Along directed, this move intends to improve the ease of doing business in the city and he hopes to encourage more investors to venture and taxpayers to pay their dues on time.

In line with this, the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) also migrated to a digital database for a cleaner list and seamless benefit distribution. Recently, the Caloocan City Council passed Ordinance no. 0984 which provides P500 cash gift to senior citizens during their birth month, on top of receiving their birthday package. To recall, this is one of the platforms of the local chief executive during the 2022 campaign period. In less than two months in office, Mayor Along has already led the distribution of the said benefit.

With education as one of the greatest priorities of his administration, Mayor Along goes beyond his achievements in educational infrastructure and financial assistance as the local government partners with several private establishments and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to provide opportunities for high school graduates and out-of-school youth to attain means to continue their education through the Government Internship Program and the Special Program for the Employment of Students.

In the ceaseless pursuit to improve the city’s public health care system aligned with mitigating the impact of the pandemic, the Caloocan LGU acquires new equipment including a digital mammography machine for its public hospitals. To improve dental services in the city health centers, the local government, in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH), provide them with new dental chairs. Intensified booster vaccination drives and mobile vaccination teams were deployed to encourage more citizens to be inoculated against Covid-19 towards a safer, healthier city.

Exactly 75 days in office, Mayor Along is the defining force in Caloocan’s progressive government. He constantly redefines himself as a leader; focusing on key areas of education, health, infrastructure, and economic recovery, not once wavering in his efforts for the people. Young, sharp, compelling and effective — Along Malapitan is a new generation leader — with a clear vision of the future of Caloocan while recognizing its history providing people with the best quality of life, equal opportunities, as well as a collaborative, safe, and productive society.