Valenzuela City Mayor Weslie “Wes” Gatchalian laid out several innovative projects and plans for the city during his first City Development Council Meeting on Oct. 6.
During the meeting, Gatchalian announced various community development projects for the city which are mostly road and drainage improvements for the calendar year 2023.
The mayor revealed that P68 million was allocated for Barangay Veinte Reales in District 1 and P40 million for Barangay Gen. T. de Leon in District 2.
The budget appropriation for the City Development Plan will come from the 20 percent of the National Tax Allotment or previously referred to as the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA), he noted.
Gatchalian also presented his flagship project “Proyektong Kakaiba” where one of his major projects is to renovate the Valenzuela City Emergency Hospital (VCEH).
“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 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. We solved this, now you will no longer see beds outside the Astrodome. We managed to get them all into the emergency hospital),” said the mayor as he recalled his inspection on the said hospital during his first week in office.
“Tayo po ay naglaan ng (We allocated) 75 million (pesos) para (to) i-fully renovate ang (the) emergency hospital. From top to bottom”, he said.
Also the major projects of the city include 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, and building a modernized Central Kitchen, among others.
Gatchalian assured that all his ongoing projects will be prioritized and will be finished soon.
The local chief executive also added that the Sangguniang Panglungsod will have a special session to approve all the future projects he laid out.
Also present in the meeting were the City’s Chief of Staff Architect Benjie Gamaro, Chairman on 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 Liga ng mga Barangay President Jonjon Bartolome, and representatives from accredited NGOs in Valenzuela.