Media Tour: New Valenzuela City Hall

Valenzuela City Hall

Mayor Sherwin "Win" T. Gatchalian

At Valenzuela City's newly-constructed PhP90 million, Mediterranean-inspired Legislative and People’s Center Building, at the New City Government Complex,  we all had lunch with Mayor Sherwin "Win" T. Gatchalian and other city officials. Also within the complex is the Social Hall and the Valenzuela City Police Headquarters. 

Our sumptuous buffet lunch (kare-kare, lumpiang shanghai, pansit, buko pandan, etc.) included, for dessert, the city's trademark putong polo. After lunch, Mayor Gatchalian delivered a speech, followed by a question session and photo ops with media guests and students.  Later, we were given free rein to tour the 4,200-sq. m., 3-storey building which is integrated to the Executive Building which was inaugurated in 2009.  

Jandy tries out the gavel at the Vice-Mayor's desk

We all visited several key frontline services offices such as the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), the Special Projects Office (SPO), the Public Employment Services Office (PESO), the City Health Department (CHD), the City Accounting Office, the City Internal Audit, the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) and the Public Information Office (PIO). 

The building also houses the offices of the Vice-Mayor, the Liga ng mga Barangay, the Sangguniang Kabataan, the City Councilors and the new session hall of the Sangguniang Panlungsod.At the Session Hall, where laws of the city are being drafted, we took turns for photo ops at the Vice-Mayor Eric M. Martinez' desk (with its gavel) and the desk of Councilor Shalani Soledad-Romulo. We also visited the office of Mayor Gatchalian. 

In front of the building is the sculpture "Triumvirate" Monument, designed by National Artist for Sculpture Napoleon Abueva and unveiled on July 11, 2008 (Dr. Pio Valenzuela's 139th birth anniversary).  It depicts the 3 core members of the Katipunan - Emilio Jacinto (the "Brains of the Katipunan"), Andres Bonifacio (founder of the Katipunan) and Dr. Pio Valenzuela (the Katipunan's first fiscal).

Triumvirate Monument

City Mayor's Office: Executive Bldg., City Hall, MacArthur Highway, Valenzuela City, Metro Manila. Tel: (632) 352-1000 local 1144 to 45.  Fax: (632) 291-3069.