Malabon City Mayor Jeannie Sandoval (front row, left) sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) President and Chief Executive Officer (PCEO) Michael de Jesus (front row, right) to accelerate the implementation of infrastructure and socioeconomic development programs in the city. (Photo by: PIA-NCR)
QUEZON CITY, (PIA) — Malabon City Mayor Jeannie Sandoval delivered her Mid-Year Achievement Report before residents, local government officials, and partners from the public and private sector during the 425th founding anniversary celebration of the city on May 21.
In her speech, Sandoval highlighted the transformative journey of Malabon in implementing development initiatives that are responsive to the needs of its residents.
“Ipinapakita natin ang ating determinasyon na maging isang moderno at maunlad na komunidad. Isang lungsod na handang sumabay sa pagbabago at magbigay ng mga serbisyong naaayon sa pangangailangan ng ating mga mamamayan,” said the mayor.
(We express our determination to become a modern and progressive community. A city that is ready to keep pace with modernization and deliver services that are aligned with the needs of our residents.)
The present administration of Sandoval gave equal priority to education programs, environmental conservation efforts, social protection services, healthcare, and infrastructure development.
Education
Aside from providing tablets to support the learning of students, among the notable projects of the local government in terms of empowering the education sector in the city include the allocation of P150 million funding to the City of Malabon University (CMU).
The said budget was utilized to cover the tuition fees of 2,000 students and establish a curriculum that is 100 percent approved by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). This, in turn, paved the way for the production of 5,709 graduates whose academic foundation is aligned with industry-specific demands.
Environment
As part of its sustainability initiatives, the local government of Malabon was able to expand its green spaces landscapes in 16 select sites in the city that are home to 4,846 plants which can significantly help in lessening the climate-warming carbon footprint.
A sum of 3,201 residents also received vegetable seeds from the city government to strengthen nutrition and local food security.
Social Protection Services
Recognizing the importance of catering to the mental health care needs of residents, Sandoval also prioritized the delivery of psychosocial interventions to 4,629 individuals.
To date, a sum of 19,514 senior citizens also benefited from the P117,084,000 million budget allocation for their social pension.
Some 78,770 residents meanwhile received financial assistance through the Malabon Ahon Blue Card, the city’s pioneer unified system for social aids which insofar delivered P39 million worth of amelioration among registered beneficiaries.
In addition, the local government was able to strengthen the utilization of the TXTMJS, a centralized reporting system, towards responding to the foremost concerns of the residents. It served as a tool to help 733 individuals in need of emergency assistance services in January 2024.
Healthcare and Infrastructure
The local government of Malabon has entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) to access a financing program that will provide funding assistance to the infrastructure and socioeconomic development programs of the city.
Under the MOA, the DBP will grant a loan worth P3 billion to the local government of Malabon for the construction of socialized housing projects and other critical infrastructure programs that will improve the quality of life in the city.
These include the mid-rise housing projects in Barangay Tinajeros (Sisa Exit and Paladium Street) with a combined 308 number of units to address the housing needs of informal settler families (ISFs), particularly those who are taking shelter in danger zones. It is aligned with the flagship housing program of the national government, Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4PH), which similarly aims to address the country’s housing security backlogs.
The infrastructure program of the city also encapsulates the establishment of the 5-storey Malabon Sports and Convention Center in Barangay Tañong with 10,000 square meter floor area. This facility will be used for the convention and recreational activities of residents.
The extension of the Ospital ng Malabon will likewise be funded to strengthen the delivery of healthcare services by accommodating more patients. Its structural improvement is an important step towards achieving a Level 2 accreditation from the Department of Health (DOH).
It can be recalled that the local government has insofar secured P13 million to provide medical and financial aid to residents through the city’s Malasakit Program. A total of 40,842 residents were also able to access free healthcare services to local health centers while 913,107 free medicines were distributed since January 2024.
Other construction projects that are headway in the city consist of a 4-storey automated parking in Barangay San Agustin to cater to the clients and employees of the local government.
“Patuloy po tayo sa pagpapatupad ng mga programa para sa inyo at asahan ninyo kami ay handang umagapay at siguruhing mabuti at maganda ang pamumuhay dito sa ating lungsod (We remain steadfast in implementing programs for the benefit of the residents and rest assured that we will continue to ensure that the state of living here in our city is quality),” Sandoval remarked. (JMP/PIA-NCR)
