Mayor Belen Fernandez of Dagupan City, Philippines, has led Dagupenos for almost 10 years. Mayor Belen once stated that her leadership is centred around creating positive impacts on the lives of local people. Mayor Belen has turned her words into actions that have brought her a long list of awards and accomplishments recognised by many.
Mayor Belen has put education as her top priority. Media recorded that she has invested more than P1.5 billion (around USD17,800) in education, covering scholarships, construction, and school renovations. Under the “Iskolar Bawat Pamilya” (Scholar for every Family) programme, she has allocated P200 million (or USD3.5 million) annual funding to ensure opportunities for youths to attend college. The city government also provided cash incentives for outstanding students.
Mayor Belen highlights the importance of raising awareness of women’s rights. Various Initiatives were developed, including training on gender sensitivity, a mental health awareness campaign, as well as the enactment of the Anti-Street Harassment Ordinance and the Gender Development Code of Dagupan City. Besides, there is the establishment of a lying-in clinic, a healthcare centre for Dagupan women to give birth with the support of state-of-the-art X-ray, electrocardiogram (ECG), and ultrasound machines.
In the health sector, Mayor Belen spearheaded the establishment of a 24-hour emergency health centre equipped with ECG monitoring, ultrasound, and X-ray machines. She has made these services free of charge for local people, ensuring equal accessibility for local people.
Mayor Belen has shown that she holds her vision unwavering. She has set the bar showing what a city leader should be like. Mayor Belen has participated and shared her experiences in several events organised by UCLG ASPAC, including the recently held First Session of Executive Bureau 2025 of UCLG ASPAC in Boracay, Aklan, Philippines.
Sources:
https://www.dagupan.gov.ph/officials/city-mayor/
https://mb.com.ph/19/3/2025/dagupan-mayor-bares-2024-gains-in-address
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1065197
https://sp.dagupan.gov.ph/about-us/
