VALENZUELA City Mayor Wes Gatchalian has formally begun his second term as the local chief executive by delivering the State-of-the-Health Address, highlighting his administration’s strengthened health services for ‘Pamilyang Valenzuelaños.’
With a renewed commitment to the health and well-being of his constituents, Gatchalian presented the city government’s expanded public health services anchored on accessibility, affordability and compassionate care.
“The address served as a testament to the city’s dedication to building a holistic health system that responds to the real needs of its people, one that mirrors the vision of a healthier, more dignified life under the ‘Valenzuelife’ campaign.”
The city’s health care is now guided by five focused agendas: availability of medicines, availability of doctors, affordability of health services, patient-centered care, and the improvement of health facilities, he said.
Under his leadership, the city government has increased its total health budget from P88.7-million in 2024 to P127.5-million in 2025, significantly enhancing access to essential medicines, especially for senior citizens who now receive a complete one-month supply of maintenance medicines for conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol.
The local government also made major improvements in medical personnel deployment.
From only 49 doctors in 2023, Valenzuela now has 82 doctors assigned full-time to health centers, exceeding the Department of Health’s standard of one physician per 20,000 population, with the city now achieving a ratio of one per 9,096, the mayor said.
“Equally prioritized is affordability. Valenzuela City also continues to break barriers in access to health services by making all clinical laboratory tests and lying-in clinic services completely free of charge. This includes previously paid services such as urinalysis, complete blood count, normal delivery, and newborn screening.”
Over the city’s health transformation is the soon-to-rise Valenzuela Health Ambulatory and Surgical Center, he revealed.
A P772-million three-storey, 16,000 square meter facility with its Phase 1 likely to open in June 2026, Gatchalian said this would offer advanced ambulatory services, radiology, chemotherapy, physical therapy, women’s health care, and minor surgeries.
The city government, the mayor said, continues to support the health of public schools’ students through mobile medical and dental vans, providing check-ups, medicines, and free eyeglasses for selected elementary pupils.
Under the Workers Education and Skills Upgrade Program (WES-UP), Gatchalian said that over 600 barangay health workers have already been TESDA-certified, elevating the standard of frontline health service delivery across communities.
