By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
QUEZON CITY — Mayor Ma. Josefina “Joy” G. Belmonte on Monday (Oct. 27) delivered her 7th State of the City Address (SOCA) at the QC MICE Center here.
In her SOCA, Mayor Belmonte said that her aim is to bring the city out of the shadows.
In 2019, Belmonte enacted the Freedom of Information Ordinance.
*Quezon City is not only known as the largest city in the country but the city with many firsts,” she said.
“On my 2nd State of the City Address, Tunay na maipagmamalaki ang Quezon City,” she added.
Belmonte stressed “3.2 million Citizens ang sentro ng ating pamamahala.”
“54% ng budget ay para sa edukasyon, pabahay. P33.26 billion for 2026 ang budget ng lungsod,” Belmonte said.
“Our financial capacity is outstanding. We are Top lgu for local sourcing as a testament to our good governance,” she added.
“P20.8 billion ang nakolekta na mas mataas kumpara noong isang taon,” Belmonte saud.
“P223 million o 62 percent increase sa real property tax kung kayat mas malaki na ang share ng Barangay through their QR code,” Belmonte said.
165 individual services in 34 online
Belmonte cited Larry Limjoco who need not go to the city hall.
There are 37,000 business establishments in the city which generated 430,000
jobs.
“Halos linggo-linggo ay nag-iimbenta ng investors sa lungsod because we offer better incentives,” Belmonte said.
“In fact, IKEA is now in the city.
QC is the most business friendly as bestowed by the PCCI,” she added.
“Many of our business processes are now in our e-services from 8am to 5pm and no breaktime,” Belmonte said.
“120,000 individuals in total ang ating natulungang magkatrabaho,” she added.
“We are partnering with national government agencies in order to expedite and fasttrack our services,” Belmonte said.
“P143.2 million were earned by our MSMEs,” she added.
“And I’m sure marami pa sa ating mga Barangay captains ang magsasagawa ng Christmas bazaars,” Belmonte said.
“Binuksan ang lungsod sa Ilocos Sur at Nueva Ecija para magkaroon ng ugnayan sa negosyo at kalakalan at maraming probinsyan ang nagpahayag ng katulad na kooperasyon,” she added.
2025-2028 cooperatives initiatives
“Makakatukuong ang city sa bumabalik na OFWs,” Belmonte said.
“7,200 ang rehistrado na tourism-related establishments gaya ng Bahay Turismo, Wellness Museum sa Barangay Tandang Sora,” she added.
“Our Pride Festival continues to attract more participants which drew 400,000 participants,” Belmonte said.
“QCinema positioned our city as the prime city in the ASEAN,”she added.
Annual Maguinhawa Food Festival and the Banawe Chinese Festival.
“360,000 senior citizens na ang rehistrado at 269,000 citizens na ang pinagkalooban ng tulong,” Belmonte said.
“51 permanent plantilla positions sa OSCA. Higit 90,000 Id’s ng PWDs ang validated at mabilis na ang access nila sa livelihood program,” she added.
“Ang funeral package ay hanggang P25,000. May Columbarium na sa Baesa na pwedeng paglagyan ng 1,000 urns,” Belmonte said .
Ang female inmates ay kumita na ng halos P1 million.
“No one is left behind program para sa male inmates sa Dec. 10, 2025,” Belmonte said.
“P5 million para sa health services sa 67 health centers. PhilHealth Yakap na may libreng P20,000 na gamot ang sakop. 157,000 senior citizens man o hindi ang nakakatanggap ng free maintenance medicines,” she added.
Ang Quezon City General Hospital ay nagkakaloob ng free hospitalization.
Ang Novaliches District Hospital ay nagkakaloob ng child pre-screening.
Gender-Inclusive Health Ordinance ay ipinasa.
27,000 women at risk cancer ang sumailalin sa screening program.
143,000 pets ang nabakunahan.
Education budget 15% o mahigit sa P6 billion.
410,000 ang mag-aaral sa public schools sa Quezon City.
458 public infrastructures across Quezon City.
More than 5,000 classrooms are under the plan.
She thanked President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. for ordering the downloading of the budget to the lgu.
Almost 12,000 scholars are now studying at the Quezon City University.
50,000 in elementary and 15,000 in college
P400 million was allocated for scholarships program.
“Part of our preparations for The Big One, we are continuously inspecting public infrastructures, including schools to ensure structural integrity,” Belmonte said.
She added that P14 million in aid were granted to the victims of earthquakes in Davao and Cebu provinces.
P1.6 billion was provided to the Quezon City Police District for early response to crime, which reported a 20% reduction in crimes in 2024.
“QC e-services wala ng pila wala ng ko tong,” Belmonte said.
“30,000 pamilya na ang mabibigyan ng katiyakan sa tahanan, kabilang ang informal settlers,” she added.
P900 million escrow amount from private developers.
On Infrastructure, 50 million square meters ang inaasahang madagdagan ng 5%.
Ang Buenamar Park sa Novaliches ay patapos na.
Ang QC ReVibe na pwede nang lakaran ang Morato Avenue.
Ang Litex area ay maayos na at binabantayan ng 24/7 para sa kaayusan.
Nakatipid ang siyudad dahil walang bidding at outsourcing.
Ang Tomas Morato ay binubuksan tuwing Linggo.
500 lamps for pailaw sa buong Elliptical Road..
Drainage Master Plan kasama ang UP Institute of Resiliency without the contractors, including the improvement of detention basins and drainage interceptor.
87,600 cubic centimeters capacity with the declogging activities.
1.4 million tons of garbage and liter were eliminated from the rivers.
P47 million was saved in the use of solar panels contributing to decrease in carbon emission.
8 electric buses were procured for the Libreng Sakay.
“41 million ridership was recorded, benefitting the most vulnerable sector such as the senior citizens, students, and jobseekers, without which, they would not travel,” Belmonte said.
She added that the use of single plastic and disposable was prohibited which lessened 25% of plastic wastes.
” No single plastic use policy was also implemented in Quezon City Circle,” Belmonte said.
“6 million used clothes were collected earning millions of pesos under the QC textile industry. Good green jobs generated 44,310 urban farmers,” she added.
Belmonte stressed that the merit-based system in the City Hall resulted to more than 3,000 employees were regularized and more than 2,000 were promoted.
The Quezon City University executive course empowered the barangays which showed that they are more capable of local governance.
More national awards were received by the barangays such as Barangay Immaculate Conception.
The Most Outstanding SK Award was garnered by Barangay Commonwealth.
Belmonte noted that 3.3 million transactions were accomplished by the District Action Centers.
“Naniniwala ako na responsibilidad natin na ipagpatuloy ang ating nasimulan,” Belmonte said.
“Konkreto na ang partisipayon ng CSOs,” she added.
“We will make Quezon City the most transparent city in the country,” Belmonte said.
“We are nearing to pass the Digital Application app because we have nothing to hide,” she added.
New Government Procurenent Act where Quezon City will be included in the caravan.
Quezon City is the Regional Winner for Asia and the Pacific on Good Governance and Presidental Award for Child Frendly Municipalities and Cities.
“Sa anim nating distrito, kasama ka sa pag-unlad,” Belmonte said.
Also present were former House Speaker former Mayor Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte, Jr., former Mayor Jun Simon, Senate President Tito Sotto III, DILG Sec. Jonvic Remulla, PDEA Dir. Gen. Usec. Isagani Nerez, DHSUD Sec. Jose Ramon Aliling, NHA GM Joeben Tai, MMDA Chairman Romando Artes, City Adm. Atty. Michael Alimurung, Chief of Staff Rowena Macatao, and City Department Heads, among others.
Vice Mayor Gian Karlo Sotto, City Council Presiding Officer; and 34 of the 36 City Councilors from the 6 Districts were also present.###
