Rex Gatchalian

Last updated
Rex Gatchalian
Sec. Rex Gatchalian (cropped).jpg
Official portrait, 2023
29th Secretary of Social Welfare and Development
Assumed office
January 31, 2023

Other programs developed under his term as a Mayor include:

Liveable Valenzuela City

After completing his projects for the 5 Pillars, Gatchalian's second wave of undertakings focused on transforming Valenzuela into a more liveable one. His notion of a liveable city essentially implies the presence of a leveled up infrastructure network and integrated sound protocols on logistics and management that will enable the city to respond to disasters and other challenges - hence, the birth of the ALERT Center (Allied Local Emergency and Evacuation Response Teams). [20] The ALERT Center is the brain of the disaster preparedness and response of the city, and the roof of the Valenzuela Disaster Preparedness Office (DPO), the new Central Fire Station, Red Cross Volunteer Center, the Valenzuela Command and Coordinating Center (VCC3), and the VC Tent.

In 2014, Gatchalian started inaugurating the 3S Centers [21] or the Sentro ng Sama-samang Serbisyo. The ‘little city halls’ house the fundamental satellite offices of the local government, such as the barangay health stations, fire substations, Serbisyo Centers (satellite offices for the payment of business permits, real property, and other government taxes), and many more.

On February 14, 2015, the city's 17th Charter Day, Valenzuelanos’ much awaited Valenzuela People's Park [22] was officially opened to the public.

Another facility in the city that boasts of a nature-centered open space and is free to the public is the Valenzuela Family Park also in Karuhatan. There is a playground, interactive fountain, aviary, fitness machines, amphitheater, and a food park in the park. The park is also pet-friendly, bike-friendly, and accessible to persons with disability. [23]

One of the many initiatives of the city government to create greener spaces, Polo Mini Park was inaugurated on January 21, 2020, six months after the announcement of the rehabilitation of the historical old town square of Polo. The park is adorned with hundred-years old luscious trees, fountain, memorial marker commemorating war veterans and statues of Pío Valenzuela and José Rizal. The park signifies not only a place for relaxation but also marks the historical identity of the city. [24]

Dubbed as Valenzuela City's "best kept secret", the Tagalag Fishing Village lies beside a 1.3 km (0.81 mi) boardwalk in Barangay Tagalag. Various activities are being offered in one of the newest attractions in the city such as recreational fishing, line fishing tutorials, bird watching, boating, photowalk, and sunset watching. [25]

COVID-19 response

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Valenzuela was the first local government to conduct localized targeted mass testing. [26] The city kicked off its own localized targeted mass testing for the coronavirus disease on April 11, 2020.

On September 12, 2020, the City Government of Valenzuela was able to acquire a COVID-19 testing laboratory license to operate for our Valenzuela Hope Molecular Laboratory, which complements the operation of the 24/7 Valenzuela Mega Contact Tracing Center. The laboratory can process 800 samples a day, and also accepts other cities' samples to be processed at Valenzuela Hope Molecular Laboratory. [27]

In addressing the crowd and long lines in public markets, mobile palengkes were rolled out.

Valenzuela Tracing Application [28] began to roll out on September 12, 2020. It is an automated contact tracing system through the use of QR codes, which provides safe, timely contact identification. ValTrace is also interconnected with Pasig and Antipolo. [29]

Under the Alagang Valenzuelano program of Valenzuela, they distributed food vouchers to families in the city as well as care bags for children with disabilities [30] and NutriPacks for kids enrolled at public daycare centers. [31]

On January 10, 2021, the city government has also signed a deal for advance purchase of 640,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine developed by AstraZeneca to vaccinate 320,000 individuals, 70% of the population of the city. [32]

House of Representatives of the Philippines (2022–2023)

Official portrait of Gatchalian during the 19th Congress Rep. Rex Gatchalian (19th Congress).jpg
Official portrait of Gatchalian during the 19th Congress

Being term-limited for mayor, Gatchalian ran for representative of the first district of Valenzuela in 2022. [33] He eventually won in an uncontested race. He was then elected as the Chairman of the Committee on Local Government of the House of Representatives in the 19th Congress. [34]

Secretary of Social Welfare and Development (2023–present)

Gatchalian (left) with President Bongbong Marcos (center), who led the distribution confiscated smuggled rice to 4Ps beneficiaries in Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay on September 19, 2023 2023-09-19 - PBBM gives away confiscated smuggled rice to poor families (04).jpg
Gatchalian (left) with President Bongbong Marcos (center), who led the distribution confiscated smuggled rice to 4Ps beneficiaries in Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay on September 19, 2023

On January 31, 2023, Gatchalian was appointed by President Bongbong Marcos as secretary of social welfare and development; he took oath on the same day. [35] With his appointment, he gave up his House Representative seat of the first district of Valenzuela.

On May 22, 2025, President Marcos ordered members of his cabinet to tender their courtesy resignations in the aftermath of the May 12, 2025 midterm elections. [36] [37] Gatchalian complied to this order. [38] He will continue to serve as secretary until the President accepts the resignation. [39]

Awards and recognitions

Valenzuela earned several citations under the Gatchalian's leadership. The citations profess the city's economic accountability, livability and disaster preparedness, outstanding employment and micro-entrepreneurship development programs, timely health and social protection policies, and sound implementation of peace and order advocacies. [4] [40] [41] [42] [43]

Valenzuela, led by Mayor Rex Gatchalian, landed three of the Top 10 Outstanding Local Governance Programs in Galing Pook Awards- Valenzuela Live, Tagalag Fishing Village and Paspas Permit. [44]

References

  1. "2022 local and national elections". The Philippine STAR .
  2. "Congress consolidating measures to defer barangay elections". BusinessWorld. 24 August 2010. Retrieved 26 December 2010. ... Rexlon T. Gatchalian (1st district, Valenzuela City), ....[ permanent dead link ]
  3. Natividad, Beverly T. (5 November 2010). "Gatchalian, Oreta keep mayoral post in Valenzuela, Malabon". Philippine Daily Inquirer . Archived from the original on 14 May 2010. Retrieved 26 December 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 "Hon. REX Gatchalian". City Government of Valenzuela. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  5. Laude, Pete (March 25, 2007). "3 Gatchalian brothers eyeing Valenzuela posts". The Philippine Star. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  6. Valenzuela, Nikka (May 14, 2019). "Rex Gatchalian gets 3rd term as Valenzuela mayor". Inquirer.net. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  7. Melican, Nathaniel R. (3 February 2014). "Valenzuela launches automated permit approval system". newsinfo.inquirer.net. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
  8. Arcilla, Camille Anne M. (11 July 2014). "Valenzuela seniors back to school…as traffic aides". newsinfo.inquirer.net. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
  9. Melican, Nathaniel R. (July 2014). "Valenzuela City dead serious about river protection". newsinfo.inquirer.net. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
  10. Abad, Roderick (2017-10-25). "Pioneering state-run baby-food plant inaugurated in Valenzuela - Roderick Abad". BusinessMirror. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
  11. "Our Kitchen On Wheels at Valenzuela National HS to deliver hot meals to our evacuees from A. Fernando, Marulas. As of 11:30am, 11 familiespic.twitter.com/6nMZ0VywrE". @valenzuelacity. 2017-07-26. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
  12. "New mobile clinic beefs up Valenzuela health services". Manila Metro. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
  13. "Precinct-on-Wheels to Bring Police Closer to Communities". City Government of Valenzuela. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
  14. "Valenzuela City launches job-matching website for residents". newsinfo.inquirer.net. 18 March 2014. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
  15. "News". Philippine Information Agency.
  16. "Best Practices".
  17. "Valenzuela Works".
  18. "Mayor Rex 'Poster Boy' ng programa – Abante News Online Archive". Archived from the original on 2023-09-09.
  19. "News". Philippine Information Agency.
  20. "Valenzuela to set up disaster-preparedness center". The Manila Times. 9 January 2015. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
  21. Paunan, Jerome Carlo R. (July 27, 2018). "Valenzuela City opens two more city hall annexes". pia.gov.ph. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
  22. Yee, Jovic (March 2015). "People's Park is just what Valenzuela folk wanted". newsinfo.inquirer.net. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
  23. De Leon, Susan G. (March 14, 2019). "Valenzuela opens new family park". Philippine Information Agency. Retrieved 2020-03-26.
  24. "Valenzuela marks greener, upgraded, historic Polo Park". Manila Standard. Retrieved 2020-03-26.
  25. Cayabyab, Marc Jayson. "Valenzuela opens first fishing village". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 2020-03-26.
  26. Dimatulac, Crissy (April 11, 2020). "Valenzuela City begins COVID-19 targeted mass testing". CNN Philippines. Archived from the original on August 19, 2022. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  27. "'A chorus of funds' sustains Valenzuela City's COVID-19 mass testing". 11 December 2020.
  28. "Valenzuela creates contact tracing app via QR code system". Philippine News Agency.
  29. "Contact tracing app in Pasig, Valenzuela, Antipolo now integrated". www.pna.gov.ph. Retrieved 2025-07-18.
  30. "Valenzuela delivers 'care bags' to children with disabilities".
  31. "News". Philippine Information Agency.
  32. "Valenzuela City inks deal for supply of 640K doses of AstraZeneca vaccine". 10 January 2021.
  33. "Wes, Rex Gatchalian seek to switch Valenzuela posts in 2022". Rappler. October 2021.
  34. "More House members get committee chairmanships". 27 July 2022.
  35. "Marcos picks Rex Gatchalian to head DSWD". Philstar.com. January 31, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  36. "Marcos calls for courtesy resignation of all Cabinet secretaries in 'bold reset'". ABS-CBN News. May 5, 2025. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  37. "No defiance here: Cabinet members follow Marcos call to resign". Politiko. May 5, 2025. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  38. Salcedo, Mary Joy (May 22, 2025). "DSWD's Rex Gatchalian files courtesy resignation, thanks Marcos". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  39. Del Callar, Michaela (May 22, 2025). "DFA chief Manalo to attend ASEAN despite courtesy resignation, sources say". GMA Integrated News. Archived from the original on May 22, 2025. Retrieved May 22, 2025. A senior [Department of Foreign Affairs] official told GMA News Online that all cabinet secretaries, including [Foreign Secretary Enrique] Manalo, are expected to continue to serve in their current posts 'until resignations are accepted.'
  40. Geronimo, Jee Y. (13 October 2017). "Best practices of 10 LGUs recognized at 2017 Galing Pook Awards". Rappler. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
  41. Abad, Roderick (2017-11-15). "Valenzuela collects 3rd Galing Pook award - Roderick Abad". BusinessMirror. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
  42. "Valenzuela City gets 4 awards in July". The Manila Times. 7 August 2017. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
  43. "Valenzuela City Achievements". Tayo Na, Valenzuela!. City Government of Valenzuela. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  44. "Valenzuela City wins big at 2021 Galing Pook Awards". Archived from the original on 2021-12-01. Retrieved 2021-11-26.
House of Representatives of the Philippines
Preceded by Representative of the First District of Valenzuela
20072013
Succeeded by
Preceded by Representative of the First District of Valenzuela
2022–2023
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of Valenzuela
2013–2022
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Eduardo Punay
as OIC
Secretary of Social Welfare and Development
2023–present
Incumbent
Order of precedence
Preceded byas Secretary of Human Settlements and Urban Development Order of Precedence of the Philippines
as Secretary of Social Welfare and Development
Succeeded byas Secretary of Agrarian Reform