Mention ‘Malabon,’ and most people instantly think of the famous noodle dish, Pansit Malabon. But beyond this well-loved specialty, the city has been making headlines in recent years—thanks to the dynamic leadership of Mayor Jeannie Sandoval.
The first-ever female mayor of the city shares with Experience Travel and Living her vision for her beloved city.“My vision for Malabon is to be sustainable—one where families feel secure, businesses thrive, and government services are efficient and accessible. We are building a foundation of long-term solutions, not just temporary fixes,” the city leader shared.
But getting in the way of her vision is the resistance to change when she assumed office. To combat the old way of doing things, her office addressed this through transparency, engagement, and quick results.
Widely popular among her programs is the Malabon Ahon Blue Card (MABC), which serves as a multi-purpose identification card for the people of Malabon. It is the means by which various social and financial services are delivered to its 86,647 household heads efficiently and transparently.
In the same manner, the flagship housing project—the St. Gregory Homes Project in Barangay Panghulo—provides 1,380 climate-resilient homes, thus giving families a safe and stable place to live. The effort to make Malabon a more sustainable and environmentally friendly city was recognized by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) for being a Disaster-Resilient, Climate Change Adaptive, and Sustainable Socialized Housing Project last year during its fifth-anniversary celebration.
Her good office had an answer to provide livelihood and economic empowerment. Its One Barangay, One Product initiative encourages small businesses, and its Public Employment Service Office (PESO) regular job fair connects residents in order to generate employment opportunities. “At the same time, we support local businesses through tourism and entrepreneurship programs. Events like the Tambobong Festival and Tambobong Cookfest celebrate Malabon’s rich culture and cuisine, attracting visitors and boosting local commerce,” Mayor Jeannie shared.
In an effort to create a business-friendly environment for entrepreneurs and job seekers alike, they have streamlined business processes by digitizing business permit applications, thus significantly cutting processing time as well as bureaucratic red tape. As a result, Malabon earned its first commendation from the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), placing 13th nationwide and 9th in NCR.
To keep its people in the pink of health, the healthcare program of the city ensures that Malabueños receive accessible and quality medical services without financial burden. It is worth noting that its monthly medicine distribution has exceeded 200,000 medicines, benefiting over 11,000 individuals per month across all barangays. In partnership with the Malasakit Center, the local government provides P15.2 million in financial aid to assist 22,000 constituents with medical expenses in 2024.
Its Walang Tulugan Service Caravan brought medical and dental missions to 36,177 individuals, offering free consultations, nutrition services, and family planning assistance in 2024. Thus, the programs ensured that Malabueños have access to healthcare services no matter their financial situation.
Community Involvement
Mayor Jeannie Sandoval makes it a point to be attuned to the pulse of her constituents by reading and listening to their feedback, especially on social media. Valid concerns are immediately directed to the appropriate departments for action. Indeed, accessibility, responsiveness, and proactiveness have been her cornerstones in addressing community needs.
“To enhance citizen participation, we launched TXT MJS, a platform initially designed to gather public feedback. It has since evolved into the 24/7 Malabon Emergency App, ensuring that community concerns are addressed promptly. We have also placed feedback boxes in government offices to make it easier for residents to share their thoughts. Additionally, we introduced the MEMA (Making It Easy for Malabueños) program, aimed at improving government services and increasing overall customer satisfaction,” the local executive added.
Hand in hand with community involvement, she and her office regularly engage with fellow Metro Manila mayors through the Metro Manila Council and the MMDA, particularly in initiatives related to traffic management and disaster response coordination. These efforts ensure that Malabon benefits from region-wide policies that improve mobility, emergency preparedness, and public safety while contributing to the greater good of the National Capital Region.
The Measure of Success
With all these good measures in place to make Malabon a happy place to live in for its people, how does one measure the effectiveness of these programs and initiatives?
“We measure the success of our programs and initiatives through a data-driven approach, ensuring that every peso spent has the maximum impact on the lives of Malabueños. Our goal is to reach as many beneficiaries as possible while minimizing costs. Ultimately, success is measured not just by the number of projects launched, but by the actual impact on people’s lives—how many families have stable housing, how many students graduate through scholarships, and how many residents secure jobs,” Mayor Jeannie asserted.
As for the future of her city, the beloved leader hopes that the progress her office has made becomes deeply embedded in Malabon’s governance framework—that the systems, policies, and programs they have built should remain long after her term ends. She envisions Malabon to be a city where every resident benefits from long-term, sustainable development—a place that continuously grows and evolves for future generations.
On the subject of what drives her to give her best for the city of Malabon and its people, Mayor Jeannie has this to say: “For me, leadership is not about power or position—it’s about making a real difference in people’s lives. That’s what keeps me pushing forward every day.”
Malabon is no longer just about its famous Pansit Malabon—it’s about its people, their progress, and a leader who genuinely listens and delivers. And as the city moves forward, one thing is certain—its future is in good hands.
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