Story and photos by Jim Victor Castro / Special to the BusinessMirror
ON the northern outskirts of Metro Manila lies the vibrant, highly urbanized city of Valenzuela in Bulacan.
Despite its current status as a premier business and industrial center in the Philippines, one of the common misconceptions about Valenzuela is that it is a backwater location that is not even part of the National Capital Region. This misconception has some basis to it, as Valenzuela really was once a meek rural town, then still a part of the province of Bulacan, which thrived on agriculture and fishery.
The city was formerly known as “Polo”, a word derived from the Tagalog word pulo, or island, as the early inhabitants considered the town a separate island due to the rivers that surrounded the area. The town was divided into two parts on July 21, 1960, when then-President Carlos P. Garcia signed Executive Order (EO) 401. The eastern side remained as Polo, while the western side became a new town, named “Valenzuela” after Dr. Pio Valenzuela—one of the “Kataas-taasang Tatlo”, or the “Triumvirate” of the Katipunan, along with Emilio Jacinto and Andres Bonifacio—who was born in and lived there.
Then, on September 11, 1963, less than three years later, then-President Diosdado Macapagal would merge these two towns once again with EO 46. During this time, the reunited towns were still considered a part of the province of Bulacan. In 1975, however, because of the rapid social and economic growth of the Greater Manila Area and Valenzuela’s proximity to it, Presidential Decree 824 was issued on November 7, creating the Metropolitan Manila Commission and separating Valenzuela from Bulacan. As a result, Valenzuela’s economy flourished, and its population significantly grew.
The political change brought about by the People Power Revolution in 1986 was the spark that ignited Valenzuela’s progress. With the restoration of democracy, the national and local government relations changed, and local governments were given more authority and independence. In 1991 the passage of the Local Government Code gave Valenzuela’s local government the power and autonomy it needed in order to use its resources to attain the municipality’s fullest potential as a self-reliant community.
Finally, on February 14, 1998, then-President Fidel V. Ramos signed Republic Act 8526, converting the municipality of Valenzuela into a highly urbanized city. Now known as the City of Valenzuela, it is the gateway to the north and one of the country’s best in terms of business and industry.
In recent times, Valenzuela City has been making even bigger strides forward, with the rise of many new infrastructures. Apart from many new government infrastructure, recreation centers and school buildings, there have also been new production facilities. One notable instance is the Automated Complementary Baby Food Production Plant—the first of its kind in the Philippines—a project developed by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (PCCI) Valenzuela chapter, in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology and the local government. The project aims to address rampant child malnutrition through the use of brand-new equipment and technology that produces baby food made of a rice-mung bean blend. This mixture is in an instant-powder form, and is produced in sachets. It is to be mixed with hot water, to be eaten as is or mixed with fruits and vegetables.
The factory, located at the Valenzuela City Polytechnic College in Barangay Parada, produces food at a rate of 120 kilograms to 180 kg of baby-food blend per hour, or around 4,000 40-gram sachets. The factory benefits 6,285 children, who are recipients of Valenzuela’s barangay-based feeding program. Not only that, but the food produced us enough to give supply even to neighboring towns. Julie M. Quiroga, PCCI Valenzuela president and owner of J. Chemie Laboratories Inc., said the children who are part of the feeding program had a huge improvement in their weight in three to six months. The project plans in the future to innovate to produce healthier food. For Quiroga, the Valenzuela government is tops when it comes to providing programs for children’s welfare.
The success of facilities like the Automated Complementary Baby Food Production Plant can be attributed to the local government and the way it establishes relationships with manufacturing companies, Quiroga said. She added Valenzuela is a very popular place to do manufacturing business because of the government’s openness to innovate and promote science and technology, as well as their willingness to truly help fulfill the people’s needs, thus making them trusted partners of those willing to work in industry.
The biggest problem with setting up shop in cities is the tax reform, Quiroga said. However, she added, Valenzuela has recently made big improvements in accommodating manufacturers. These improvements, Quiroga said, came during the term of former mayor, now senator, Sherwin T. Gatchalian. The implementation of projects only sped up with the term of current Mayor Rexlon T. Gatchalian, who continued the plans of the previous administration.
A major contributing government project to ease doing of business in Valenzuela is the 3S (Simple Processes, Speed in Delivery and Service Excellence) Plus Program launched in 2013, which speeds up all business-related application procedures and transactions through the use of information and communications technology. It offers online- and mobile-payment systems and credit card point-of-sale terminals for real-property tax, an automated system for construction-permit application and an online system for police-clearance application, which all greatly enhance the investment-friendliness of the city for businesses of all levels. It has also become the government’s antigraft and corruption measure, as Mayor Gatchalian believes that reducing human interactions in government transactions is an effective way to eliminate red tape and avoid corruption. The convenience that the program brought lead to the city’s recognition as a model city for fast business-permit processing by the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.
Valenzuela has, indeed, come a long way from its humble beginnings. From its roots as a simple community, it has grown exponentially over the years, even becoming one of the top manufacturing cities in the country, and its progress shows little sign of slowing down. The vision of the local government, as well as cooperation from the citizens and investors, has led to Valenzuela’s rise as highly competitive and innovative city. These factors all contribute to Valenzuela’s position as one of the best places to do business in the Philippines.
Image credits: Jim Victor Castro
4 comments
Good for Valenzuela, but last time I check the only problem there is the transportation and road infrastructure. It is difficult to navigate around Valenzuela because the only main thoroughfare in the heart of the city is the McArthur Highway. which is horribly congested 24/7. Check out those junctions in Malinta and Karuhatan, there’s another near Fatima and BBB.
There should be a new road constructed that will interconnect it to Novaliches, Bagong Silang and San Jose Del Monte City to further spur developments in these area.
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