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City of Valenzuela

Location
Map of Metro Manila showing the location of Valenzuela.
Government
Region	Metro Manila (National Capital Region)
Province	—
District	1st and 2nd Districts of Valenzuela City
Barangays	32
Income class:	1st class; highly urbanized city
Mayor	Sherwin T. Gatchalian (NPC)
Founded	1623
Cityhood	December 30, 1998
Physical characteristics
Area	47.0 km²
Population      Total (2000)      Density	485,433 10,889/km²
Coordinates	14°41'N 120°58'E

The City of Valenzuela (Filipino: Lungsod ng Valenzuela) is one of the cities and municipalities that comprise Metro Manila in the Philippines. The city has approximately 500,000 residents and is primarily an industrial and residential suburb of Manila. The North Luzon Expressway passes through the city and out of Metro Manila into the province of Bulacan.

Valenzuela has a land area of approximately 45 square kilometers. It is bordered by Quezon City and northern Caloocan City to the east, by Malabon City and southern Caloocan City to the south, by Obando in Bulacan to the west, and Meycauayan, also in Bulacan, to the north.

Valenzuela means “little Valencia” in Spanish, and is also the surname Dr. Pio Valenzuela, a Philippine historical personality after which the city was named. Since becoming a city in 1998, Valenzuela’s economy has flourished and its population has swelled significantly.

Contents 1 Districts and barangays 2 Transportation 3 Historical Sites 4 City Accomplishments(2004-Present) 5 History 6 Sister City 7 External links

Valenzuela is composed of 32 barangays which are grouped into two congressional districts, and two legislative districts. Legislative District 1 contains 23 barangays in the northern half of the city, while legislative District 2 occupies the 9 barangays in the southern portion of the city.

District 1 Arkong Bato Balangakas Bignay Bisig Canumay Coloong Dalandanan Isla Lawang Bato Lingunan Mabolo Malanday Malinta Palasan Pariancillo Villa Pasolo Poblacion Polo Punturin Rincon Tagalag Veinte Reales Wawang Pulo

District 2 Bagbaguin Karuhatan Gen. T. De Leon Mapulang Lupa Marulas Maysan Parada Paso de Blas Ugong

Two major highways traverse Valenzuela City - the MacArthur Highway and the North Luzon Expressway The proximity of the North Luzon Expressway to the city center makes Valenzuela a northern gateway to Metro Manila and a choice location for business and

1.)Residence of Dr. Pio Valenzuela

• Dr. Pio Valenzuela was part of the triumvirate, along with Andres Bonifacio and Emilio Jacinto, that composed the the Katipunan, and was one of the founders of Ang Kalayaan— the official organ of the movement.He was born on July 11, 1869 in this house along Velilla Strret in Barangay Pariancillo Villa.

2.)Bell Tower of San Diego De Alcala Church

• The Church of San Diego de Alcala was built in 1632 by the people of Polo. Residents were taken to forced labor to complete the church aftr the town gained its independence through Father Juan Taranco and Don Juan Monsod.The belfry and entrance arch, which are over four centuries old, are the only parts of the edifice that remain to this day. The main structure was destroyed by bombs during the Japanese occupation.Residents of Barangays Polo and Poblacion celebrate the Feast Day of San Diego de Alcala on the 12th of November every year.

3.)Arkong Bato

• Literally, Arkong Bato is an arch of stone along M.H Del Pilar Street, built by the Americans in 1910. The arch then marked the boundary between the provinces of Rizal and Bulacan.

In the olden days, M.H Del Pilar was the primary road leading to Northern Luzon before Mac Arthur Highway was opened.

A.)Fiscal Management

1.)Income

• The City Government posted higher income in 2005 with a total collection of P 1.245 Billion, against P 1.018 Billion in 2004. There is an increase of P 227 Million in income.This increase is a combined result of extensive tax collection efforts, vigorous information campaign, diligent tax mapping, and auction of real properties with long standing delinquencies.

2.)Savings

• The City Government generated an aggregate savings of P 117 Million in 2005, against only P 21 Million in 2004.This is the result of adapting cost-saving measures such as buying the cheapest supplies and materials without sacrificing quality and buying only things that are really needed.

B.)Comprehensive and Effective Flood Control Program

• Road and drainage improvement
• De-clogging and de-silting of drainages, creeks and other waterways
• Repair and maintenance of dikes, floodgates and pumping stations

C.) Cleaning and Greening Program

• 100% garbage collection efficiency
• Establishment of Task Force Disiplina
• Anti-littering campaign
• Fully operational City Pound and intensive animal-catching operations
• Implementation of the Cleanest Barangay Award

D.)VC Global Program

• Provision of free textbooks and workbooks for all daycare students
• Provision of free notebooks for all public elementary and high school students
• Provision of lesson planners, journals, class registers and other teaching materials for all public school teachers
• Strengthening of the Alternative Learning System in all barangays

E.)VC Cares

• Free medicines and health care services for all qualified indigent residents of the City
• mprovement and upgrading of the facilities of the Valenzuela City Emergency Hospital
• Steady supply of medicines in all barangay health centers
• Standardization of barangay health centers
• Regular medical and dental missions

F.)Maintenance of Peace and Order

• Donation of fourteen (14) patrol vehicles and nineteen (19) motorcycles to increase police visibility
• Donation of one hundred (100) units rechargeable flashlights (Maglite) for nightwatch patrol
• Donation of forty two (42) handheld radios
• Additional PhP 500.00 monthly allowance for police personnel
• Establishment of Police Community Precinct (PCP) 8 at Que Grande, Barangay Ugong

Valenzuela City was originally known as Polo, and established as an independent town in 1623. Polo was an idyllic center of agriculture and fishery carved from the town of Meycauayan, Bulacan. The town acquired its independence through the efforts of Father Juan Taranco and Don Juan Monsod.

The chapel of San Diego de Alcala, and its now famous belfry, was completed in 1632 and became the town's center that stood witness to several battles during the Spanish, American and Japanese occupations.

On July 21, 1960, President Diosdado Macapagal signed Executive Order No. 401, which led to the creation of the Municipality of Valenzuela, in honor of Dr. Pio Valenzuela, a significant personality in Philippine history who was born here.

Because of the rapid growth of the Greater Manila Area in terms of population, as well as social and economic requirements in the early seventies, and the municipality's proximity to the area, Presidential Decree Number 824 was issued on November 7, 1975, creating the Metropolitan Manila Commission and separating the Municipality of Valenzuela from the Province of Bulacan.

As part of the Greater Manila Area, The social and political upheavals of the seventies and early eighties did not dampen the pulsating economy of the municipality. It was, in fact, a golden age in the history and culture of Valenzuela when businesses and industries in the municipality grew rapidly.

In 1986, a new socio-political order swept the country. The four days of the EDSA People Power Revolution were marked by an outpouring of love, anger, hysteria and courage by a people fighting for change and renewal. The restoration of democracy in the country also brought about a paradigm shift in national and local government relations.

The passage of the Local Government Code in 1991 unlocked and marshalled the repressed energies of local communities. The Local Government Code provides genuine and meaningful autonomy to enable local governments to attain their fullest development as self-reliant communities. It was during this time that Valenzuela began charting its own destiny and moved the local economy in the direction it chose.

On February 14, 1998, then President Fidel Ramos signed Republic Act No. 8526, converting the Municipality of Valenzuela into a highly urbanized city, making Valenzuela the 12th city in Metro Manila and the 83rd in the Philippines.

• Bucheon, South Korea

• Official Website of Valenzuela City