Despite the abolition the Priority Development Assistance Fund or PDAF, Valenzuela City Congressman Gatchalian has been proactive in offering a wide range of local programs that cater to his constituents’ needs.
In order to continue the delivery of programs from medical to burial assistance, the returning lawmaker established partnerships with hospitals, educators, civic groups, and other private groups.
Let’s take a look at the list of Top 10 local programs that Congressman Win launched that have helped the most number of beneficiaries in his district in 2014. (Tim Alcantara)
- Legal Aid Program
Since July 18, a total of 17 inmates were already released from detention while 124 others are still receiving legal consultation for free.
- Vocational Training
Last September, this district program trained a total of 242 out-of-school youth from ages 17 to 35 by giving them free short courses on carpentry, automotive servicing, welding, electronics servicing, bread-making, and pastry-making.
- ‘Salamat Teacher’ Program
In line with the celebration of the National Teacher’s Month, Gatchalian launched the ‘Salamat Teacher’ Medical Program to extend medical aid to over 1,000 public school teachers in Valenzuela City last October 4.
These public school teachers would not have been given free medical consultation and treatment in ear, nose, throat (ENT), ob-gynecology, pediatrics, ophthalmology, internal medicine, and minor surger,y among others without the help from volunteers from Manila Doctors Hospital or MDH.
- Student Financial Assistance Program
Offered annually since becoming a congressman, the Student Financial Assistance Program or StuFap hopes to provide financial support to poor but deserving students in Valenzuela City to help them pursue a degree in college.
With the help of the Commission on Higher Education or CHED, StuFap was able to help a total of 1,250 college students taking priority courses in over 32 public and private schools in Metro Manila for the academic year 2014 to 2015 last March.
- Mega-job Fair
In order to speed up the hiring process for job-seekers in Valenzuela City, Gatchalian launched two mega job fairs at the Valenzuela City Astrodome last March 11 and July 19.
With employers meeting about 2,139 applicants at, a total of 97 job-seekers were hired on the spot.
This program aimed to help the city government of Valenzuela reach its target of zero unemployment rate.
- Bantay Kalusugan
More than 2,000 teachers, policemen, firefighters, and other public servants received free medical check-up and treatment in the ‘Bantay Kalusugan’ program, which was held at the Valenzuela City Astrodome on November 22.
The medical mission was conducted to show appreciation on the efforts and selfless acts of public servants in Valenzuela City in fighting crimes and other disaster.
- Blood-letting Event 2014
With the help of volunteers from the Philippine Red Cross or PRC, the month-long health campaign was brought to Bulacan State University or BSU, Ever Gotesco Commonwealth, Quezon City Hall, SM Valenzuela City, at Our Lady of Fatima University or OLFU.
- Summer Reading Camp
A total of 18,736 elementary students were able to significantly improve their reading and comprehension skills following the conduct of the Summer Reading Camp last May 5 to 25.
The program, which took the form of a summer remedial class, aims to prepare Grades 3 and 6 elementary students in taking the National Achievement Test or NAT for the academic year 2014 to 2015.
Out of all the participants, about 6,448 students are now considered “independent readers” or those who can read and comprehend without requiring any assistance.
- Medical Assistance Program (MAP)
Gatchalian has been offering medical assistance program in order to provide for the medical needs of his constituents in the first district of Valenzuela City.
Despite the abolition of Priority Development Assistance Fund or PDAF in 2013, this program continues to give free medical consultation and treatment as well as subsidized medicines to Valenzuela City residents.
Since the start of the program in April of this year alone, MAP helped a total of 8,090 constituents seek medical treatment in 14 different hospitals throughout Metro Manila.
- Nanay-Teacher Parenting Camp
The Nanay-Teacher Parenting Camp was conducted to strengthen capability and boost the sense of responsibility of parents in educating their children.
From 300 parents, its beneficiaries rapidly increased when it ran at full-force in 32 public elementary schools in Valenzuela City from September 15 to December 15.
In a tally released by Department of Education or DepEd in Valenzuela City, around 53,881 parents took part in the four-month parenting program with a 100 percent attendance rate on 30 public schools.
With its success, Nanay-Teacher Parenting Camp was also adopted by six other local government units or LGUs in Pampanga, Bulacan, and Laguna.
