By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
QUEZON CITY — Mayor Ma. Josefina “Joy” Belmonte on Monday (June 30) began her third and last term as the Chief Executive of Quezon City.
Mayor Joy Belmonte took her oath at the MICE Center, Quezon City Hall complex, together with Vice Mayor Gian Karlo Sotto and the City Councilors.
Also present were Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo and former House Speaker and father of Mayor Joy Belmonte, Feliciano “Sony” R. Belmonte, Jr.
Belmonte, Jr. served as Quezon City Mayor from 2001 to 2010.
Mayor Belmonte led the 2025 inaugural ceremony of the duly-elected officials of Quezon City.
Gesmundo administered the oath of office of Belmonte, Sotto and the City Councilors from District 1, District 2, District 3, District 4, District 5, and District 6.Also those who also took their respective oath are District 1 Rep. Juan Carlos C. Atayde, District 3 Rep. Franz S. Pumaren, District 4 Jesus Manuel C. Suntay, District 5 Rep. Patrick Michael. D. Vargas, and District 6 Rep. Maria Victoria Co Pilar.
Reaffirming public service, Vice Mayor Sotto took his oath of office.
A visionary leader, Mayor Belmonte-Alimurung took her oath of office to serve the people of Quezon City.
In her inaugural address, Belmonte said “grabe nandito. Nandito na naman tayo.” .
Belmonte began her public service in 2019.
“It was clear that the city needs to be where the people are,” she said.
“We need a government that is participatory and transparent,” she added.
Six years and two terms, Mayor Belmonte stood again before the people of Quezon City.
“We can now proudly say that Quezon City is the standard of local governance,” Belmonte said.
Quezon City has received 430 awards here and abroad and just recently received an unqualified opinion from the Commission on Audit (COA).
She thanked the City Council for being supportive for six years presided by Vice Mayor Sotto.
“You cannot fall from an empty cup, so to speak,” Belmonte said.
Belmonte added that when she is asked, she responded “We are confidently exceptionally well.”
The mayor saidl that scholarship will be doubled, social program will be strengthened, housing for the Quezon City residents will be prioritized, the electric bus service will continue, culture and tourism will be propagated.
“We will prioritize our drainage projects to mitigate and control floodings,” Belmonte said
She pointed out that Quezon City has now become what everyone wants it to be.
Belmonte expounded that the City Government wants to prioritize the quality of life of Citizens.
She propounded that she would hear the voices of the city residents and fight for their benefit and well-being.
“Hindi ko sasayangin ang pagkakataon na makapaglingkod ulit sa inyo,” Belmonte said. ###
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