For a more efficient delivery of basic services, city operations are handled by 12 of the 15 departments mandatory for a highly urbanized city as per RA 7160 also known as the 1991 Local Government Code (Figure 7.01). The other three (3) departments carry out the devolved functions of national agencies and are actually attached as divisions or sections to relevant departments: the Social Welfare and Development Division of the Administrative Department; the Veterinary Section of the Health Department, and the Agricultural Technologist or the Livelihood Component of the City Estate Management and Development Department.

Recognizing the bulk of operations and degree of responsibilities of some offices, the government has reorganized its organizational structure to cope with the salient needs and characteristics of the constituency.

In 2003, for instance, the Office of the Zoning Administrator was officially adopted as a division of the City Planning and Development Office with corresponding regular plantilla items by virtue of Ordinance No. 273, S-2003. This office used to function concurrently with the CPDO since the approval of the Comprehensive Development Plan of the City by the Housing and Regulatory Board on April 16, 2001.

The Mandaluyong City Medical Center has expanded its physical structure and services while operating separately from the Health Department, with its Hospital Director as the Department Head. The MCMC functions more on curative health while the City Health Department is more focused on preventive care.

Moreover, the city government maintains its relationships with offices under the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Commission on Audit (COA) operating within the City Hall Compound.

The City Mayor exercises administrative supervision over all local officials with the aid of the Vice-Mayor who also acts as Presiding Officer for the City Council. The Council, which serves as the Legislative body of the Local Government, is composed of twelve (12) Sanggunian Members or City Councilors representing two (2) political districts of the city. The Sanggunian Secretary having the rank of Department Head, oversees the overall function of the Council.

Elective officials comprise the city council, each one heading a different committee as listed in Table 7.01.

Manpower

• Personnel

There is a total of 16 elected city hall officials which include the city mayor, the vice mayor, 12 city councilors, Sanggunian Kabataan President, and the Liga ng mga Barangay President.

The local government has a total of 3,574 employees distributed among the various departments. Working in the City Hall is about 81 (80.478%) percent of the total LGU manpower, while the city hospital is manned by about ten percent (9.9%) of total employees, and the city-funded school teachers and non-academic school personnel takes up the rest (9.6%).

Only 22.21 percent of these employees hold permanent plantilla positions. A large portion (73%) of the city workforce is of casual employment status. Contractual and other specially hired personnel take up about four percent (4.33%). See Table 7.02

These numbers are occasionally augmented by a group of students fulfilling on the-job training (OJT) requirements from various schools. In the last three years, a total of 125 students had been assigned to different local offices, and dealt mainly with clerical jobs and office systems and procedures (Table 7.03). Also augmenting the city workforce is the annual Summer Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) which hires students every summer. (Also, see Special Services)

• Development Programs

On professional development, officials and employees are allowed to attend trainings and seminars relevant to their office functions upon invitation of the host agencies, both foreign and domestic.

BUILDING RESOURCES

In the City Hall Compound, the city government and its offices are temporarily housed in different buildings with the on-going construction of the multi-storey City Hall Building Complex. Names and locations of these buildings are shown in Map 63.

For sports development and other multi-purpose functions, there are the City Gymnasium and the Tennis Court and Clubhouse.

To provide for the needs of students, researchers and interested individuals for reference books, specialty books, and Filipiniana Articles, a public library is open for service at Kaban ng Hiyas which also houses a museum and an auditorium hall.

Elsewhere in the city, public buildings are composed of barangay halls and multi-purpose structures, local health centers and public schools, either locally funded or aided by the national government and other funding agencies.

LOCAL FISCAL MANAGEMENT

REVENUE GENERATION AND MANAGEMENT

For the last six years, the city’s income has been continuously increasing with the economic innovations of the Abalos administration (see Table 7.04). With the year 2002 reaching its highest revenue mark, Mandaluyong now boasts of having Php1.2 Billion in income. This is a far cry from a mere Php 836 Million income in 1998 when Mayor Benhur Abalos first came into office as the city’s chief executive.

Actually, Mandaluyong reached its first billion mark in revenues at the turn of the millennium with the recorded Php1.1 Billion in year 2001. It steadily increased to Php1.2B in 2002. However, the year 2003 recorded a slight decrease in income compared to the previous year. Last year, it concluded with only Php1,198,077,359.47 in plain income.

Income generated from traditional sources got a considerable boost from an increased Internal Revenue Allotment since the city entered cityhood in 1994. During that time, IRA share for Mandaluyong jumped about 200% higher, and has been steadily increasing since then (Table 7.05).

Operating and Miscellaneous Revenues had a steady increase mostly due to increasing business activities except in 1999 when alarming economic crisis befell the entire Asian region. But with the power to generate income through non-traditional sources as per 1991 Local Government Code, Mandaluyong was able to steer its economic engines into productivity once again.

No loans or borrowings were indicated in the statement of income and expenditures (Table 7.06) for the fiscal years 2001 and 2002. However, more than twenty percent (20%) of the city’s income comes from its IRA share. This means that IRA plays a big part in the economic liquidity of the local government. It may be said that Mandaluyong is partly dependent on what it is getting from the national allotment for the implementation of its public service programs.

Expenditures over the years on the other hand, are dominated by the General Public Services, followed by Nutrition and Population Control, Economic Services, as well as Education, Culture and Sports. The smallest part of the pie belongs to Social Security/Services and Welfare, barely making a one percent (1%) share on the whole expenditure pie (Figure 7.02 and Figure 7.03).

The year 1998 proved to be a difficult fiscal year with the books closing with around Php16 million in budgetary deficit. The succeeding years however showed improving fiscal performance with Mandaluyong managing to keep a little surplus on its income over expenditures. Most notable in the six-year period are years 2000 and 2003 which recorded surpluses of Php110 million and Php261 million, respectively. Even more notable is the fact that savings for the year 2003 almost equals that year’s IRA - a clear manifestation of the city’s capability to generate from its own sources funds sufficient to discharge its services.

BUDGET ALLOCATION

For a more efficient fiscal management, the city’s income is divided into the following areas of services:

• General Services

These involve offices undertaking administrative and business regulatory functions and other general services.

• Social Services

These involve delivering of basic services in the areas of health, education, social welfare, environmental management, cultural affairs, employment and skills development, and basic sectors

• Economic Services

These services to improve the local economy are focused on Cooperative development, operation of public enterprises, building regulations, infrastructure support services, and livelihood.

• Other Services

These are non-office and special activities necessary to maintain local operations running. These involve emergency funds, community and barangay development funds, contributions and other financial obligations.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Adapting to the prevailing trends in computerization, the city is gradually building up the required technology that will improve both internal management and delivery of frontline services. Beefing up the in-house developed City Management Information System (CMIS), a new and more comprehensive and integrated Information System has been adopted and is in various stages of implementation.

Revenue-Generating Systems

• Real Property Systems

Initial database has been done using an in-house developed program for property assessment, started in 1998 and is being used for property inquiry, verification and update. Currently on its testing stage is the new Property Tax and Assessment System, interlinked with the Real Property Tax Collection module under the Treasury System.

The following are the features of the system Property File Maintenance, Taxpayer, Property Inquiry, Automated Zonal Valuation, Tax, penalties, and rebates computation, Projected Tax Collection Report, Abstraction Report, Audit Trail, Network enabled.

The system includes automated records tracking, tax order of payment, billing, recording, auditing, and reports generation.

To facilitate identification of real property locations, a Geographic Information System (GIS) with base map was prepared using aerial photograph from the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA). This system however is not yet linked to the CMIS

• Business Permits and License Tax Administration System (BPLTAS)

The new Business Permits and License Tax Administration System designed to be interlinked with the Treasury System was launched in January 2004 replacing the in-house developed Business Tax System which has been in operation since 1989. This will include Tax payer File Maintenance, New/Renewal Business permits processing, Automated taxes, Fees and Penalties Computation, Tax delinquency Tracking/ billing, Payment Records maintenance, Automated listing/report generation, Audit trail, Network enabled.

The new systems likewise includes: billings; records, delinquencies and payments tracking; and financial and listing reports generation.

A single document on Tax Order of Payment (TOP) and actual Business Permit is prepared using chemically treated computer forms generated by the Business License and Permits Office.

Currently, payment posting is done by computer operators of the BPLO once the BPLO copy of business permits is validated and returned from the Treasury Department.

Eventually, all payments received at the Treasury Department shall automatically be posted and updated through implementation of the Point of Sales (POS) system. This will facilitate daily collection abstraction, as well as eliminate delayed payments posting and update at the BPLO.

• City Engineering Fees Administration System

Still in its development stage, this system shall be linked with the following systems: Real Property Tax Administration System; Business Permits and License Tax System; and Treasury System, and shall include the following Automated taxes, Fees and Penalties, Computation/Assessment, Billing, Automated listing / report generation, Network enabled.

• Civil Registry System

Still in its development stage, this system shall include Documents tracking, Reports generation of Birth/Death/Marriage by Day/Month/Year, Billing, Records inquiry of Birth, Death, or Marriage, Certification Printing, Network enabled.

Administrative Support Systems

• Payroll System

With this system, payroll of city employees is fully automated and integrated into the CMIS together with Personnel Management Information System. The payroll is prepared in pre-printed, chemically treated computer forms. Since August 2001, employees have been enjoying the benefits of Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) in claiming their salaries, as the city government has tied its payroll system with the Land Bank of the Philippines.

Currently, the City of Mandaluyong is using an in-housing developed payroll system which has been running since 1994. This system is 100 percent functional and has the following features: Employees file maintenance, Payroll/payslip generation, Remittances Report Generation, Employment /Income Certification, Individual Remit-tances Certification, Link with Mandaluyong City Cooperative Department, Abstraction, Summary Report, Network Enabled.

• Financial Management Information System

In the area of general finance, a Budget Preparation and Monitoring System have been fully developed together with a Financial Management Information System covering the Accounting and Treasury Departments. However, this system is still in its testing stage.

• Police Crime Log System

Still in its development stage, this system shall include Daily Log of all reported offenses, Report on Demographical Data, Link to Mapinfo Geographical Information Systems through Property Indices.

• Mandaluyong Housing Program System

Housing Project Tracking Module will include Database of Awardees (per project), Amortization/Penalty and Interest Computation, Automated Billing Generation, Payments Tracking/Query/Posting (from POS), Delinquency Listing Report, Letter to Delinquent Payers, Urban Poor Tracking Module, Database of Urban Poor Profiles, Reports on Demographical Data, Link to Mapinfo Geographical Information System through Property Indices, Custom Queries/Reports Generation.

• ON-LINE Data Base, Socio-Economic and Physical Profile

As Mandaluyong finally joins the cyberworld, doing researches about the city is made more accessible through the city website www.mandaluyong.gov.ph. Entering this site, the researcher will find himself presented with a comprehensive socio-economic profile of the city which includes important land marks and places of interest, and local current news and affairs.

Network Approaches and Schemes

Interlinked together since 2001 are the IT Division, Human Resource Management Department, and the Cooperative Department. With the implementation of the new Mandaluyong City Computerized Information Systems through Council Resolution #916 S-2002, the backbone of our wide area network has been laid connecting not only neighboring offices, but buildings as well through fiber optics. This has enabled offices to set-up one-stop workstations facilitating access and exchange of information among offices.

Linkages being prepared for implementation are the following:

• Linkaging of an updated GIS and parceling of land with real property tax records and the proposed Engineering System to be used as tool to improve collection of taxes, demographic monitoring, mapping of business establishments as well as existing buildings, drainage systems, and other infrastructure projects.

• Collection of payments for Housing and Residence Certificates, statutory fees and other operating and miscellaneous revenue fees will be integrated to the Financial Management Information System.

• Interlinking Budget, Accounting and Treasury System with a monitoring unit at the Mayor’s Office.

• Redevelopment and integration of the Payroll System with Personnel Management Information System wherein swipe Identifi-cation cards for attendances and salary computation will be used.

DEVELOPMENT LEGISLATION

For the past three years, the city has passed local legislations that supported holistic development thrusts. Twenty (20) city ordinances were approved by the City Council for the years 2001 and 2002, while a total of 179 Council Resolutions has been passed for the same period. Significant legislations approved are the following:

Administrative

• Resolution authorizing the City Treasurer to open a separate trust account for the Priority Development Assistance Fund with the Land Bank of the Phils.

• Resolution ratifying the memorandum of agreement for ATM Payroll System of the city executed by and between the Land Bank of the Phils. and the city

• Resolution ratifying and confirming the purchase of motor vehicles by the city mayor from Ford-Quezon Avenue for the Office of the Sangguniang Panlungsod

• Resolution authorizing the city mayor to acquire by way of purchase 27 units of barangay patrol vehicles, six (6) units police mobile cars and one (1) Sanggunian Secretary service car

• Resolution ratifying and confirming the contract entered into by the city government represented by the city mayor and Winnaps Consulting for the computerization of the city information system

Social Service

• Ordinance granting mortuary assistance of Php2,000.00 to lawful heirs of all recognized war veterans of the city whose income is below Php60,000.00 annually

• Resolution ratifying and confirming the purchase of motor vehicles by the city mayor from Toyota Shaw-Ortigas for the local government and police service needs

• Resolution authorizing the city mayor to negotiate and secure financial grants and donations in kind from any local and foreign sources in support of basic services and facilities

• Resolution supporting the clamor of numerous Sanggunian in the country in condemning the Government Service Insurance System Employees Loyalty Incentive Plan (GSIS-ELIP), a supplementary retirement scheme solely for GSIS officials and employees

Environment

• Revised Ordinance restricting stray animals from roaming or loitering at public places and for other purposes

• Resolution recommending approval and adoption of the Pasig River Rehabilitation Master Plan

• Resolution commending Bonifacio Javier Elementary School for having initiated and currently engaged in the “Pera sa Basura” project, and enjoining other public schools of the city to follow and start their own similar waste management projects

Economy

• Ordinance adopting the prescribed rate of filing and processing fees for Zoning Clearance in the city pursuant to the Local Government Code of 1991, Zoning Ordinance of 2000 and other pertinent laws and legislations

• Ordinance amending provision of ordinance adopting the revised Business Tax Code of Mandaluyong

• Ordinance imposing tax on corporations and other business establishments enjoying a franchise doing business/operation in the city

• Resolution authorizing the city mayor to sign on behalf of the city government the National Government’s IRA Securitization and Monetization Program with respect to its share in the Php676.00 Billion unreleased IRA for CY 2000 in the amount of Php12,075,911.00

• Resolution of appreciation to the Mandaluyong Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. in declaring the City of Mandaluyong as the Shopping Mall Capital of the Phils.

Informal Sector

• Ordinance regulating the franchising and operation of motorized tricycles in the city

• Ordinance creating a local council for registered vendors for the immediate implementation of Executive Order No. 452, S-1997 in the city

• Resolutions granting franchises to operate motorized tricycles to renewal applicants

Housing and Land Acquisition

• Resolution reiterating the previous request and plead to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to allocate sixty (60) hectares within the Welfareville property owned and registered in the name of the Department of Social Welfare and Development

• Resolution authorizing the mayor in behalf of the city government to enter into a real estate mortgage with the Sto. Rosario Homeowners Association and to negotiate, transact and sign documents for the loan takeout it has applied with the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation

• Resolution authorizing the city mayor to sign pertinent documents relative to the Land for the Landless and Home for the Homeless Program of the city government

• Resolution authorizing the city mayor to acquire through purchase the real properties of: Jaime B. Leyco located at 316 Nanirahan St, and covered by TCT#19580; Mr. Antonio Hermano located at 864 Pantaleon St, Barangay Barangka Itaas and covered by TCT#4083; L&R Corp. located at 426 Busilak St., Barangka Drive and covered by TCT #6900 of the Registry of Deeds; Spouses Felino and Morita Mendoza located at Countryside Subdivision, Barangay Barangka Ibaba and covered by TCT #1297

• Resolution authorizing the city mayor to accept and sign the Deed of Donation in favor of the city government by the Fabella Estate Tenants Association, Inc. of the latter’s road lots located at the city

• Resolution authorizing the city mayor to award unto the bonafide and qualified occupants of the 787 square meters of land of the city government and covered by TCT#179124

• Resolution authorizing the city mayor to award to beneficiaries/awardees the property located at 9 de Febrero Street, Barangay Mauway

• Resolution authorizing the city mayor to enter into a usufruct with the Department of Education over its property located at Barangay San Jose and covered by TCT#17301 of the Registry of Deeds

• Resolution authorizing the city mayor to purchase the real property of L&R Corp. located at 426 Busilak St., Barangka Drive and covered by TCT #6900 of the Registry of Deeds

• Resolution urging and requesting the city mayor to create an adhoc committee tasked to investigate alleged anomalies and irregularities committed by beneficiaries/awardees in the city’s socialized housing projects

Tourism

• Resolution authorizing the city mayor to enter into a twinning agreement or pact of sisterhood between Mandaluyong and the City of Dubai, United Arab Emirates

• Resolution interposing no objection to Asia Inns, Inc. for the operation of Sogo Hotel branch located at the Market Place, Gen. Kalentong St, this city

• Resolution commending the Mandaluyong Children’s Chorus for winning the silver and bronze medals in the prestigious 2nd World Choir Olympics held in Busan, South Korea in October 2002

Land Use and Development

• Resolution granting approval of Caltex (Phils)’ application for a Locational Clearance of its proposed gasoline station project located at San Francisco Street, Barangay Plainview and application for site development of gasoline station project located at Boni Ave. corner Dansalan St, Barangay Malamig

• Resolution granting development permits unto: Empire East Land Holdings, Inc. of its proposed construction of California Garden Square located at Libertad St. cor Calbayog St., Barangay Highway Hills; Prominence Property Development Corp to its proposed construction on One Primrose Place (5-storey commercial/residential condomin-ium) located at 663 Boni Ave, Barangay Plainview; Globe Asiatique Realty Holdings Corp of its proposed construction of G.A. Tower Condominium located at No. 83 EDSA; and, R. J. Lhinet Development Corp. to its proposed construction of One Sapphire (5-storey Residential Condo) located at No. 858 Fabella St., Barangay Plainview

• Resolution authorizing the city mayor to enter into a building contract in behalf of the city government with Jovita C. Rodriguez for the construction of an eight (8)-storey executive building in the city

• Resolution authorizing the city mayor to enter into a usufruct agreement with the Ayala Mandaluyong Homeowners Association over the use of a portion of city property located at Barangay Barangka and covered by TCT #16202 of the Registry of Deeds

Infrastructure

• Resolutions ratifying and confirming contracts entered into by the city government represented by the city mayor for the improvement of drainage and concreting of streets namely Haig, Arayat, Lunas and Laura, Barangka Drive, Romualdez, E. Rodriguez, Schuyler, M. Leyva, C. de Venecia, P. Cruz and PNR, Ligaya and Limay, Sto. Rosario, San Rafael, Sierra Madre and Martinez

Flood Control

• Resolution urging the immediate preparation of the feasibility study, detailed design and implementation of the Pasig River Pumping Station to be located at San Francisco Street, Barangay Hulo

Education

• Resolution requesting the Mandaluyong City School Board to attend to the priority needs of public elementary and secondary schools in the city

Employment

• Resolution amending previous council resolution of 1992 requesting all business establishments in the city to give preference to its residents in the matter of hiring personnel

Health

• Resolution granting the renewal of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) entered into by the city mayor and the Botika ng Mandaluyong Consumer Cooperative from January 24, 2002 to December 31, 2004

• Resolution authorizing the city mayor to enter into a memorandum of agreement with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology Mandaluyong Station and the RTC-MTC Executive Judges relative to providing health care and services to newly committed inmates

SPECIAL SERVICES

Endeavoring to promote the general welfare of its people, the city government has also taken into assisting specific individuals in areas of employment, livelihood and skills development, and in pursuing higher education through scholarships and grants.

Summer Program for the Employment of Students (SPES)

In coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the city government employs college students of legal age every summer, providing them early exposure to real office work with full compensation on a 60%-40% basis, the former coming from the city government while the latter is shouldered by DOLE. Students not accommodated in the City Hall are referred to private firms in the city, with the same compensation arrangements jointly shouldered by DOLE and the employer.

For the past three years (2000-2003), the city through SPES was instrumental in giving jobs to hundreds of city youths, totaling 125 as of June 30, 2003.

City Of Mandaluyong Collegiate Scholarship Program

While the city provides educational opportunities to its constituents from primary to secondary level through public elementary and high school facilities, its services are extended to deserving students wanting to pursue higher education. Since the program began in 1996 and having tied up with Rizal Technological University, it has produced 57 graduates from the pioneering batch, five of whom graduated CUM LAUDE.

To support the program, the city allocates annually a combined budget from the Special Education Fund and the General Funds, as detailed in Table 7.06.

Public Employment Services/Job Placement

As part of the city’s priority in improving the quality of life of its constituents through employment, the city government in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment has set up a Public Employment and Service Office (PESO) to focus on this aspect of social service. Primary function of PESO is to assist local constituents seeking employment of various natures. This is facilitated by the city government’s offer of tax incentives to local firms and establishments accepting PESO referrals.

Notably, PESO has also been instrumental in providing overseas employment to a number of skilled workers of the city without the usual hassles of placement fees usually associated with private overseas agencies. The PESO occasionally holds job fairs separately for local and overseas employment as a form of information campaign and provide meeting venue for employers and prospective job seekers.

For the last three (3) years, PESO has generated and has been instrumental in giving thousands of employment opportunities to city residents. Summary of figures is detailed in Table 7.07

The City Council through City Ordinance No. 193 S-1998 has created the Disabled Persons Affairs Division (DPAD) under the Office of the City Administrator to focus on programs and projects for persons with disabilities. DPAD has developed sustaining programs which had reached hundreds of special children and differently-abled persons over the past couple of years. Among these programs are research, education, advocacy, accessibility, community-based program and organization, sports and socio-cultural program, employment and livelihood, as well as income generation program.

• Research

Included in the program are the development/upgrading of the data base of persons with disabilities, linkage with research centers for possible research-based programs, and publication of wall news, journals, newsletters and other information materials for the service of the sector.

• Education

This provides the literacy program of the sector through evaluation of the present educational system for children and youth with disabilities, and establishment of institutions for programs that will help uplift the educational capability of beneficiaries.

• Advocacy

Include lobbying for support through the City Council for the passage of support local legislations for the sector; development of barangay, school-based and church-based awareness program; and, development of family, community and workplace sensitivity workshops.

• Accessibility

Include the establishment of a task force to monitor the implementation of the Accessibility Law and the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons.

• Community-based Program and Organization

Support the establishment of different organizations of persons with disabilities and caregivers.

• Sports and Socio-cultural Program

Development of sports training, linkage with both local, national and international sports association and participation in such sports events; institutionalization of different sporting events in the city’s programs; development of theater group composed of the sector.

• Employment and Livelihood

Development of employment programs for the sector and linkage with other agencies for the promotion of the sector’s employment and livelihood concerns, as well as establishment of cooperatives.

• Income Generation

Full implementation of the programs means support from other sources, not just the local government. DPAD tries to see to it that programs could be sustained at minimal costs of the local administration. This, DPAD tries to manage through networking with other concerned private organizations.

To date, thousands of disabled persons in the city have been benefited by the DPAD programs since it started six years ago. Table 7.10 shows the summary of projects and its impact to the sector.

Livelihood and Skills Development

• Courses

The Mandaluyong Manpower and Development Center (MMDC) has evolve from a small government institution to a nationally competitive training center operationally guided by the philosophy of helping man realize his optimum potential to be a profitable member of his community. To develop and enhance capability and competencies of the unemployed, underemployed and those tending to be entrepreneurial, the MMDC as a training institution offers free training in various vocational and technical courses as well as livelihood programs. (See Table 7.11)

The center has two (2) training centers, one in Barangay Hulo and another at Welfareville Compound in Addition Hills. It has a total of 23 training facilitators and 49 support staff, supported by budget allocations from the General Fund.

A new addition to the center’s roster of courses is Carpentry. Its initial project, the Casket Making, catered to handicapped trainees whose training expenses were shouldered by the city government. These caskets were in turn sold for a minimum fee to the needing poor families in the city. This project has significant benefits both to the consumers of the affordable caskets as well as to the handicapped makers who eke out their living from the new craft.

• As a placement and counseling office

The MMDC also give guidance counseling and placement assistance. Aside from PESO, MMDC through its Placement Officer conducts Training Induction Programs (TIP) and Job Induction Programs (JIP) for the on-going and out-going trainees. These orientations are conducted to promote study habits, moral, attitudinal and work values and ethics of training beneficiaries. The center also provides a listing of employment opportunities and makes job referrals to both public and private sectors.

Target participants of the livelihood programs of the MMDC are city residents from the poor barangays. Advocacy on the importance of education is its focus through career guidance in all public elementary and secondary schools in the city.

• As service-oriented entity

The MMDC conducts trade tests in various trade areas to out-going trainees in order to determine their effectiveness in skills by theories and practical applications and to upgrade their qualification for employment. The trade test is administered by testing officers from the TESDA-NCR-PaMaMariSan District.

Entrepreneurial initiatives are also a regular program of the center especially for the out-of-school youths and the unemployed adults. Seminars are conducted regularly by TESDA and other private agencies. These seminars aim to assist beneficiaries to get into employment through industry or self-employment.

• Awards and Recognitions

For the past three years, the center has earned awards and recognition for both the center and its exemplary trainors and students which include the following:

* Certificate of Recognition for the Center for achieving 130% of its target on Basic Skills and Livelihood Training Program
* Outstanding Training Center Achieve-ment Award from TESDA
* Most Outstanding Training Adminis-trator in Metro Manila
* First Place, Pres. Ramon Magsaysay Working Man Award for the NCR Level
* Silver Medallist, Metro Manila 1997 Youth Skills Olympics
* First Place, 1999 Regional Skills Olympic Welding competition
* Silver Medallist, Welding Competition, Philippine National Skills Competition
* 2000 National Awardee of “TESDA KABALIKAT AWARD” for the City Government
* 2002 Outstanding Training Achieve-ment Award for outstanding performance in the conduct of community-based technical and skills training by graduating over 1,000 trainees for the year
* Special Citation Award for its promotion of TESDA Occupational Qualification and Certification System (TOQCS)
* Certificate of Recognition for its valuable contribution in the promotion and conduct of community-based technical skills training
* Outstanding Industrial Skills Trainor Award to Arc Welding trainor Mr, Bernardo A. Benito for his outstanding performance and selfless contribution and dedication to the technical, moral and spiritual development of the trainees
* Certificate of Recognition Award to Ms. Rebecca O. Villaflores (Cosmetology/ Reflexology Trainee) for having shown exemplary performance in relation to her technical and skills training

To promote specific trade areas and occupations relevant to present economic trends and gain active participation of the industry in advocating skills excellence, the Center launched its First Mandaluyong Open Skills Competition on July 15, 1999, and has continued to dos so every year since then.

PUBLIC ENTERPRISES

The city government was able to develop three (3) public enterprises, all of which are currently in operation. It is important to note, however, that while these enterprises generate income, its purpose is to provide subsidized services such that expenditures for its maintenance and operations far exceeds its income.

Mandaluyong Public Market

The public market is housed within the Market Place Shopping Mall, a six (6) storey commercial complex with movie houses, bowling lanes, departments stores, and two levels of parking spaces. The whole structure replaced the old public market that was destroyed by fire in 1992. It costs $14.15 Million1 and is known as the first government project in the nation implemented under the Built-Operate Transfer (BOT) Scheme.

Mandaluyong Public Cemetery

The city Cemetery is located along Gregorio Aglipay St., Brgy. Vergara. It has a total land area of 21, 262.08 sq. meters and features an 80 sq.m. chapel, three-layer apartment type vaults available thru 5-years non-renewable lease contracts, and a series of smaller vaults called the Remain Deposit cubicles where remains of those whose lease contracts have expired are permanently deposited.

Recently, a Bone Crypt was constructed (2001) to answer the growing congestion in the limited space of the burial ground. A Bone Crypt is a systematized platform of 1.2 meters in height and 18x10 meters in area size. It has a chamber measuring 2.8 meters, serving as mass grave of all those previously occupying the apartment-type vaults for five years. Their names shall be inscribed in its wall as a token remembrance for the family to visit and pay homage to.

Up Aglipay St. in Brgy. Old Zaniga is another 4,000 sq. meter public cemetery called the Mandaluyong Memorial Park. It features 3-level vaults in separate burial plots for children and adults, an ossuary or bone crypt as permanent depository of exhumed remains from the burial plots, and a cinerarium to receive the ashes of those who were cremated. In contrast to the City Cemetery, all burial structures are constructed underground in order to preserve the open space character of the area except for the cinerarium which is above ground along one section of the perimeter wall.

Currently, there are two (2) public cemeteries in Mandaluyong. The two (2) institutions are being managed by the Engineering Department, and strengthened by the “Oplan Kaluluwa” program every All Saints Day.

Mandaluyong Public Hospital

Known as the Mandaluyong City Medical Center, this five-storey structure situated along Boni Avenue, Brgy. Plainview provides curative health care to local constituents. It is presently a secondary level hospital facility having 110-bed capacity, and is undergoing physical expansion that will eventually provide tertiary level medical services.

NON-GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATION

A total of forty-four (44) Non-Government Organizations are in existence in the city. The list encompasses various fields such as housing, business, religious, transportation, health and other socio-civic fields.

• Mandaluyong Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc.
• San Felipe Neri Savings and Credit Cooperative
• Mandaluyong Jaycees, Inc.
• Barangka Subdivision Neighborhood Association, Inc.
• Mandaluyong Federation of Senior Citizens Association, Inc.
• MAFETA Transport Services and Multi-purpose Cooperative
• Barangay Malamig Senior Citizens Association, Inc.
• Civilian Country Guard Action Movers-Mandaluyong Chapter
• Samahan ng May Kapansanan
• Fabella Estate Tenants Association, Inc.
• Mandaluyong Pastors Associations, Inc.
• 2nd Mandaluyong Veterans Post
• Barangay Barangka Drive Senior Citizens Association, Inc.
• Samahang Magkakapitbahay sa Wed-nesday, Inc.
• Samahang Magkakapitbahay sa Sikap (SAMASI), Inc.
• 4K Association Inc.
• Federation of Neighborhood and Civic Organization, Inc.
• Neighborhood Association for Urban Development (NAFUDE), Inc.
• Nandos Neighborhood Association Inc.
• SAMAGKA National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) BLISS Compound Inc.
• Panatag Association Inc.
• Samahang Magkakapitbahay sa Kaun-laran ng Mandaluyong Inc.
• Lakas ng mga Naninirahan sa Welfare-ville (LANAW) Inc.
• Maraliat Hangad ay Lupa (MAHAL) Inc.
• Foster Neighborhood Association Inc.
• United Neighborhood for Water Development Association, Inc.
• Pinag-Isang Lakas ng Nasunugan (PILAK-NA)
• Blk. 37 Neighborhood Association Inc.
• Solid Blk. 39 and Goodwill Association Inc.
• Burol Neighborhood Association Inc.
• Metro Mart Complex Boni Barangka TODA Inc.
• Samahang Pinag-isang Lakas Tungo sa Kaunlaran, Inc.
• Maytunas Creekside Neighborhood Association, Inc.
• Samahang Maralita ng Blk. 34 Welfareville compound Addition Hills Inc.
• Polymedic Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association
• Maralitang Nagkakaisa sa Burol Inc.
• Isla San Jose Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association
• Ulirang Pamayanan ng Hagdang Bato Itaas
• Solid Neighborhood Movement of Blk.15,22,25 Extension Association, Inc.
• Blk. 22 Extension Welfareville Com-pound Neighborhood Association
• Kapit-Bisig Welfareville Association Inc.
• IIsang Simulaing Pangarap Neigh-borhood Association sa Welfareville Inc.
• Samahang Magkakapitbahay Inc.
• Barangay Health Workers Federation of Mandaluyong Inc.