Valenzuela City Mayor Weslie “Wes” Gatchalian led the inauguration of the first local government-funded Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)-accredited barangay health workers' education and skills upgrade program training and assessment center on Tuesday, November 4.

The new facility is located at the former ALS Building in Barangay Parada.

During the inauguration, a graduation ceremony was held for the 139 newly TESDA-accredited Barangay Health Workers (BHW).

It is the first of its kind in the Philippines — an LGU-operated, TESDA-accredited training and assessment center dedicated to BHWs — allowing Valenzuela to conduct its own in-house training and certification through locally trained assessors.

“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 (We want to be known not only as an industrial city but also as a liveable city, and our priority there is a sound health program. Along with this, we have opened two Sentro Health Hubs that are open from Monday to Sunday, even on holidays),” Mayor Gatchalian said.

“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 (That's why I am very proud because you will be the ones who will develop our overall health program, you are the most important people in our health sector because you are the ones who go around every place, every neighborhood, and you are the best at health promotions),” he added.

The project is a product of a partnership between the City Government, the Synergeia Foundation, and TESDA.

In 2022, the LGU’s first batch of Barangay Health Workers earned their TESDA Barangay Health Services NC II certification with support from Synergeia and Johnson & Johnson.

Of Valenzuela’s 331 active barangay health workers, 310 are now TESDA-accredited, with 139 recognized during the recent ceremony.

Each city-funded BHW will also receive a starter kit containing basic medical supplies to aid them in their day-to-day duties.

Through the new training and assessment center, the city can now conduct TESDA competency assessments locally, reducing costs, minimizing waiting times, and ensuring more efficient certification for its healthcare workers.