Quezon City Vice Mayor Gian Sotto on Friday, March 25, said that his, Mayor Joy Belmonte, and the local government’s priority for the city is still good governance and servant leadership.
He made the statement during Serbisyo sa Bayan Party’s (SBP) grand proclamation rally that kicked off the 2022 local election campaign, at the Quezon Memorial Circle (QMC) on Friday morning.
“Our first priority has always been good governance and servant leadership. Yung tapat na serbisyo at totoong serbisyo para sa kapwa Pilipino, kapwa pamilya dito sa Quezon City (Our priority has always been true and honest service for our fellow Filipinos and families in Quezon City),” he said.
Sotto said it is possible to respond quickly to the people’s needs and that the city needs an honest leader.
“Naging malinaw po sa akin, kapag inuna po talaga ang pulitika at walang atupagin kundi ang pamumulitika, talagang ang unang makikinabang talaga diyan ay ang pulitiko. Pero pag ang tutukan natin ay serbisyo sa bayan at wala tayong atupagin kundi magserbisyo sa bayan, ang makikinabang ay ang taong bayan ( It has become clear to me that when politics comes first, the first to benifit will be the politician. But if we prioritize our service to the people and focus only on serving them, the people will be the ones to benefit),” he said.
He added that the future of the country and the city are in the hands of its citizens and it will not happen if the leaders will think only about themselves.
Sotto cited some programs the local government implemented to help the citizens during the Covid-19 pandemic such as the “Pangkabuhayang QC” which provided livelihood assistance to families, freedom of information that allowed the people to see how the government’s funds were used, free swab and vaccination cash, and relief assistance.
He said that although the country is facing the pandemic for almost three years now, the city still made a lot of accomplishments .
“Kung two years ago nakalockdown tayo, wala kayong makikitang tao dito, (Two years ago when we were placed under lockdown, you wouldn't see people here ). Ngayon (now), we are celebrating life, we are celebrating the restoration of Quezon City.”
Sotto is running for the same position in the May 2022 elections.