Last Saturday noon, Senator Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian and his brother, Valenzuela City Mayor Weslie “Wes” Gatchalian, arrived by private plane to turn over cash and goods to the provincial government and several towns affected by super typhoon Uwan.
The two Gatchalians’ visit came 17 days after another brother, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, became the first high-ranking Malacanang official to see for himself the destruction wrought by the storm in Catanduanes.
The DSWD made good on his word to provide one Family Food Pack for all 87,000 families affected by the disaster.
Sen. Win and Mayor Weslie were welcomed by Gov. Patrick Alain Azanza and chief of staff Atty. Joselito Ramil Tamayo, with the group met by Virac Mayor Sinforoso Sarmiento Jr. at the Palta Big barangay plaza where the Gatchalians distributed relief goods to families in the three Palta barangays whose houses were either totally or partially damaged.
Also present were Valenzuela City Councilor Roselle Sabino-Sy, CSWDO Head Dorothy Evangelista, and CDRRMO Chief Dr. Arnaldo Antonio.
At the Capitol lobby, the visitors turned over P3.05 million as cash assistance to the PLGU and the 11 municipalities, as well as 1,550 sacks of rice valued at P3.02 million for disaster-stricken families.
The city government also doled out 50 school bags to selected pupils and 50 family packs containing clothing, underwear and hygiene essentials to 50 heads of abaca farming families, with the PLGU adding a blanket and five kilos of rice each to the latter recipients.
The senator, who is now on his second term, reaffirmed his commitment to support the island province although he expressed regret that his visits have always come after a strong typhoon.
The same vow was reiterated by the mayor, who disclosed that the city government decided to forego its annual Christmas party and holiday trimmings to redirect the savings to supporting calamity-affected communities in the country.
Prior to the two siblings’ visit, the Metro Manila city had already deployed a CDRRMO team, equipped with two water sanitation trucks complete with water supply, toilets and shower units, to the severely affected villages.
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All four sons of the so-called plastics king, industrialist William Gatchalian, are already in politics.
Aside from Sen. Win, Mayor Weslie, and DSWD Sec. Rex (who once served as congressman and mayor of Valenzuela), Kenneth is the congressman of the city’s 1st district.
It was the eldest, Sherwin who is now 51, who first entered politics in 2001 and won as congressman. He decided not to run for reelection and instead became mayor in 2004, completing the three terms.
In 2013, he went back to being a solon before running for senator in 2016 and for a new term three years ago.
The 2nd son, Kenneth, focused on business but was eventually persuaded to run for congressman in 2025.
Rex, the 3rd son, won the congressional seat in 2007 and served until 2013 when he ran for mayor.
After nine years, he reclaimed the House seat and served until 2023 when he was appointed as DSWD chief.
The youngest, Weslie, is the only one not to serve as mayor, as he was elected to the House as representative of Alay Buhay partylist in 2013.
In 2016, he was elected congressman and served until 2022, when he ran for mayor.
The Gatchalian political dynasty has held the mayoral post since 2004 while the 1st congressional district has been in their hands for all but three years, when Bobbit Carlos won the seat, during the period from 2001 to 2025.
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