Caloocan City Mayor Dale Gonzalo "Along" Malapitan delivered his third State of the City Address (SOCA) at the Caloocan City Sports Complex on Friday, Sept. 6, highlighting his administration's achievements and future projects.
In photo: Caloocan City Mayor Dale Gonzalo "Along" Malapitan (Photo from Caloocan City PIO)
The event was attended by city officials, including Vice Mayor Karina Teh-Limsico, Congressman Oca Malapitan, Congresswoman Mitch Cajayon-Uy, Congressman Dean Asistio, and members of the Sangguniang Panglungsod.
In his address, Mayor Malapitan underscored his commitment to fulfilling promises made to his constituents, ensuring that progress would continue.
“Sa mga nakalipas na taon, hindi lang ako basta nangako. Tiniyak ko na ang ating mga pangako ay matutupad at makikita ng bawat batang kankaloo na may nasisimulan sa mga ito. Alam ko, na sisingilin ako, tayo ng ating mga mamamayan (In the past years, I didn't just make promises. I ensured that our commitments would be fulfilled, and every child of Kankaloo would see the progress we've started. I understand that our citizens will hold me, and all of us, accountable),” he said.
“Sa tiwalang ipinagkaloob nila sa atin, they have high hopes in our government and we cannot fail them. At marapat lamang din na singilin nila tayo sa ating mga pangako dahil utang din natin sa kanila kung bakit tayo naririto, ang kanilang tiwala ang puhunan natin sa ating paglilingkod (With the trust they have given us, they have high hopes in our government, and we cannot fail them. It is only right that they hold us accountable for our promises because we owe it to them why we are here. Their trust is our capital in serving them),” Malapitan added.
Malapitan highlighted key accomplishments, including providing 261,524 job opportunities for local jobseekers, with 97,500 youth employed through job fairs and special employment programs.
More than 66,000 citizens attended livelihood training, while livelihood packages were distributed to 3,000 individuals, including solo parents, persons with disabilities, and families of child laborers.
The mayor also emphasized the city's efforts to improve healthcare by enhancing facilities at the Caloocan City Medical Center (CCMC) and the Caloocan City North Medical Center (CCNMC), with new equipment such as CT scan machines, digital X-rays, and mammograms.
The city government aims to elevate CCMC to a Level 1 hospital to provide more services, including surgeries and deliveries.
It added that the city government will add more health centers such as Bagong Silang Phase 2 Health Center, Bagong Barrio 149 Lying-in Clinic and Health Center, Bagumbong Main Health Center, and Camarin 174 Health Center will be completed by the end of the year.
He added that the newly constructed and rehabilitated health centers will be able to provide proper medical services to over 400,000 residents from nearby communities.
Free services and medicine in every health center in the city also include a nurse, doctor, dentist, midwife, and even a nutritionist.
Malapitan announced several upcoming projects, including the construction of a crematorium and columbarium, a Hall of Justice, and a new Government Center to serve as a one-stop-shop for local and national government transactions.
The city will also build new facilities for the police, fire protection, and sports arena.
The establishment of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines-Caloocan Campus and the University of Caloocan City-College of Medicine and Health Sciences was also announced to provide better education opportunities.
More than 10,000 units will be provided in the Bankers and Deparo Residences, while 2,600 housing units have already been provided for residents from danger zones.
Mayor Malapitan concluded by expressing his gratitude for the continuous support of the residents and vowed to continue working diligently towards a better and more progressive Caloocan.