OUTGOING Valenzuela Mayor and District 1 Representative-elect Rexlon “Rex” Gatchalian and Mayor-elect and outgoing Rep. Wes Gatchalian led the inauguration and opening of the 24th mini-city hall or the “Sentro ng Sama-samang Serbisyo” (3S Center).

The latest 3S Center is a twostory building with facilities consisting of the barangay hall, health station, daycare center, Alternative Learning System center, Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) office and a multi-purpose hall, among others, according to the city’s Public Information Officer Zyan Caina.

“Specifically, the 3S Center, which is the brainchild of Mayor Rex Gatchalian, is designed to house local government offices that are frequented by the people for various purposes,” he said.

Set to assume the city’s top post by July 1, Representative Gatchalian, the mayor’s younger brother, has assured to maintain the several 3S centers established in the city’s 33 villages aimed at making transactions more accessible to the residents instead of going to the City Hall.

“This is the challenge, we have built complete facilities and it is only proper that we should also give superb service to the community that must be efficient and effective,” the outgoing First District lawmaker said.

The outgoing city chief executive, who initiated the establishment of the “little city halls” during his first term in 2013, meanwhile, said that the objective of the 3S Centers is to bring services closer to the people.

“Aside from it, we like it to become a One-Stop-Shop, where you can see the health center, daycare and all your needs and that is our 3S Centers now,” he told The Manila Times.

During floods and earthquakes, a 3S Center would serve as the city government’s remote incident command post from which all response and relief for the communities it covers would be dispensed.

The multi-purpose halls could also accommodate evacuees, the local government said.

“The 3S Centers prove helpful during episodes of disasters. Through these public service stations, the local government would be able to quickly respond to calamity-impacted families and individuals,” Mayor Gatchalian said.

With a total of 24 established 3S Centers this 2022, the very first inaugurated in 2014 in Barangay Poblacion, there are three more rising in Barangay Palasan, Barangay Mapulang Lupa and Barangay Canumay West, according to the city officials.

Aside from the Gatchalian brothers, others who were present during May 26 blessing and opening were Vice Mayor Lorie Natividad-Borja, Councilor Ricar Enriquez, Liga ng mga Barangay President Councilor Jon-Jon Bartolome, SK Federation President Councilor Goyong Serrano, Tagalag Chairman Robert Geronimo, and Council and SK Chairman Arcee Dayego and the youth council.