Sherwin Gatchalian

Sherwin T. Gatchalian
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Valenzuela City's First District
Incumbent
Assumed office June 30, 2013
Succeeded by	Rexlon Gatchalian
In office June 30, 2001 – June 30, 2004
Preceded by	Magtanggol Gunigundo (Prior to 2001, Lone District of Valenzuela)
Succeeded by	Jose Emmanuel Carlos
25th Mayor of Valenzuela
In office June 30, 2004 – June 30, 2013
Preceded by	Jose Emmanuel Carlos
Succeeded by	Rexlon Gatchalian
Personal details
Born	Sherwin T. Gatchalian (1974-04-06) April 6, 1974 Manila, Philippines
Political party	National People's Coalition (NPC)
Alma mater	Boston University (BS)
Profession	Businessman, politician
Religion	Evangelical Christian

Sherwin T. Gatchalian (born April 6, 1974) is a notable figure in business and politics. He was the mayor of Valenzuela, Philippines where he served three terms and is currently the Representative-elect of the First Legislative District of the same city for the House of Representatives of the Philippines. Prior to his taking office as the city mayor, he also served in the House from 2001 to 2004. In 2011, he was The Outstanding Young Men Honoree for Public Service ^[1] and was cited as one of Development Executive Group (DevEx) Manila 40 Under 40 International Development Leaders in 2013.^[2]

Gatchalian was considered as a potential candidate for the 2013 Senatorial elections, instead he decided to run for Congress for his possible second term.^[3]

Under his administration Valenzuela became a recipient of the Galing Pook Award for 2012 for its 3S in Public Service program ^[4] as well as given recognition as the Most Business Friendly Local Government Unit in 2012 by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.^[5]

Most recently it was given the Seal of Good Housekeeping by DILG ^[6] and hailed as one of the 2013 Champions for Health Governance Awardee distinguished by the Kaya Natin! Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership, and the DOH.^[7] Valenzuela also received Top 1 Best Governed Highly Urbanized City in 2010 from the DILG.^[8]

Early Life and Education

Born on April 6, 1974, Sherwin T. Gatchalian is the eldest son of businessman and philanthropist William Gatchalian. He studied elementary and high school at Grace Christian High School. He earned his business administration degree at Boston University in Massachusetts. He later finished advanced studies in corporate finance at the Euromoney Institute of Finance in New York and language courses at the Beijing Language and Culture University in China.

Prior to government service, he worked for several blue chip companies, including Air Philippines International Corporation, the Wellex Group of Companies, Omico Mining Corporation, and Plastic City Corporation. Soon after finishing his Master's degree, he became the vice chairman of the Waterfront Philippines Inc.^[9]

While still a corporate executive, Gatchalian founded the WIN Action Center, Inc. which aims to serve the people of Valenzuela. The center, which remains in operation, regularly carries out medical missions, feeding programs, calamity response and assistance, scholarship grants, and youth outreach programs across Valenzuela.^[10]

When Valenzuela was divided to two congressional districts in 2001, he ran for the 12th Congress representing the first district of the city.

Political career

In 2001, Congressman WIN ran for his first elective post and easily won the Congressional seat at the 1st District of Valenzuela. Among the bills and resolutions he authored were on the protection of migrant workers, the establishment of anti-illegal recruitment centers, the establishment of district drug rehabilitation centers, along with other developmental laws for the improvement of his home city.

Governance

When he assumed his post as mayor of Valenzuela, Philippines in 2004, Congressman WIN steered Valenzuela toward major reforms.

Just six months into his first term as mayor, he ended the city’s garbage woes and turned Valenzuela into an urban model of cleanliness. In the aftermath of the devastation of typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) in 2009, Valenzuela, with him at the helm, harnessed both public and private resources to become the first city in Metro Manila to clear its area of flood debris and rubbish. In a bid to rein in corruption and to improve public service, Congressman WIN streamlined and simplified government transactions and integrated relevant technologies in government procedures. Improved tax collection, alongside a marked increase in taxpayers’ confidence in the local administration, has also led to a surge in city revenues. Income more than doubled from P900 million in 2004 to P2.1 billion in 2009.

Infrastructure Projects

Congressman WIN made infrastructure development in Valenzuela a priority during his term, constantly improving city operations for both citizens and enterprises. In 2008, the city-funded P90-million Lingunan-Lawang Bato overpass was opened to vehicular and pedestrian traffic, finally linking the eastern and western portions of the city that had earlier been separated by the Northern Luzon Expressway (NLEX). The 80-meter-long and 10-meter-wide bridge significantly eased traffic congestion along the narrow Canumay East Service Road and the NLEX’s busy Malinta Exit, and facilitated trade flow across the city.

He also oversaw the construction work of a new government complex, which strategically placed city offices and public service agencies in a single district. This included a new executive building, a finance center and the police headquarters. A social hall, and a people’s center and legislative building, which houses the offices of the City Council and the Vice Mayor’s office, and the frontline service offices, were also established to facilitate public access to the local government. The old city hall building was also renovated and now serves as the Valenzuela City Hall of Justice.

Education Program

Congressman WIN considers quality education as his centerpiece advocacy even when he was the local chief executive and under his guidance Valenzuela gained important strides toward this direction. Under the comprehensive WIN ang Edukasyon program, more than 2,000 classrooms have been built since 2004. Almost one million notebooks, lesson planners, and other teaching and learning materials are distributed every year. At the same time, public school teachers are given regular city government-sponsored trainings and seminars on the latest in teaching methods and strategies.

Mathematics and English workbooks have been developed with the Department of Education-Valenzuela, and are being supplied for free to all public elementary schools. In public high schools, state-of-the-art computer laboratories have been set up in support of the national government’s ICT program.^[11]

One of the fruitions of such programs is the city placing first in the SY 2010-2011 DepEd administered National Achievement Test for Elementary.^[12]

Private career

Gatchalian was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Plastic City Corporation in 2000. He also held previous positions as Director in 1999 with various companies such as Forum Pacific Inc., Express Savings Corporation and Bataan Polythylene Holding Corporation. However in year 1996 to 2000 he became part of Air Philippines International Corporation and held positions such as SVP for Finance/Comptroller, Vice-Chairman and Director.

He also took over Wellex Group of Companies in 1997 to 2000 as EVP for operations and Business Development and, in 1999 he became the Vice-Chairman of Waterfront Philippines Inc. as well as being the Chief Executive Officer of Genwire manufacturing Corporation. Aside from serving on these various boards he is an active member of business clubs and professional organizations namely The Lions Club of Valenzuela, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Valenzuela Inc., Makati Business Club, Young Entrepreneurs’ Organization of Makati and Rotary Club of Valenzuela.

He is also the founder of WIN Mother’s Club and WIN Youth Club (WYC). Congressman Gatchalian has been elected to the Board of Governors of the foremost humanitarian organization in the country, the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), during its recent 29th Biennial National Convention. He was also responsible for the general investiture of 3,580 Red Cross volunteers, earning the city the moniker “City of Volunteers,” a feat well-articulated by that year's theme for the convention, “Red Cross 143 in the Heart of Every Volunteer. ^{[13][14] [15] [16]}

References

v t e Valenzuela City Barangays District I Arkong Bato Balangkas Bignay Bisig Canumay Coloong Dalandanan Isla Lawang Bato Lingunan Mabolo (San Roque) Malanday Malinta Palasan Pariancillo Villa Pasolo Poblacion Polo Punturin Rincon Tagalag Veinte Reales Wawang Pulo District II Bagbaguin Karuhatan Gen. T. de Leon Mapulang Lupa Marulas Maysan Parada Paso de Blas Ugong Landmarks Museo Valenzuela National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima San Diego de Alcala Church SM Center Valenzuela Valenzuela City Convention Center Connection C–5 MacArthur NLEx PNR Mainline Gen. T. de Leon Station Services Fatima Medical Center Valenzuela City General Hospital Education Colleges and Universities Our Lady of Fatima University Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela St. Louis College of Valenzuela Valenzuela City Polytechnic College Public schools Dalandanan NHS Gen. T. de Leon NHS Lawang Bato NHS Malinta NHS Mapulang Lupa NHS Parada NHS Vicente P. Trinidad NHS Valenzuela City Science High School Private schools Sto. Rosario Montessori School Nuestra Señora de Guia Academy Government Mayors Representatives Sister Cities Bucheon Angeles Calapan Koronadal Narvacan Sta. Cruz Metropolitan Manila, Philippines