Re-elected Quezon City Mayor Josefina “Joy” Belmonte Alimurung and other elected city government officials were sworn in at EVM Convention Center in Quezon City on Wednesday, June 29.
Belmonte led the oath-taking ceremony along with Vice Mayor Gian Sotto before Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo.
Apart from Vice Mayor Gian Sotto, those who also took their oath of office were District 1 Rep. Juan Carlos “Arjo” Atayde, District 2 Rep. Ralph Raffy Tulfo, District 3 Rep. Franz Pumaren, District 4 Rep. Marvin Rillo, District 5 Rep. Patrick Michael “PM” Vargas, District 6 Rep. Maria Victoria Co-Pillar, and city councilors.
In her inaugural speech, Belmonte assured QCitizens that they will continue to serve and improve the city.
“Sa nakaraang tatlong taon, ang ating QCitizens ang pinakamalaki at pinakamahalaga nating kayamanan. Kung tunay silang mapakikinggan, mapaglalaanan ng sapat na tulong, at mapapakilos para makipagtulungan sa gobyerno, sila ang hindi mapipigilang pwersa ng pagbabago para sa kabutihan ng lungsod (For the past three years, our QCitizens have been our greatest and most valuable asset. If they can be truly listened to, given adequate assistance, and encouraged to work with the government, they will be the unstoppable forces of change for the good of the city),” she said.
“Posible ang asenso sa tulong ninyo – Vice Mayor Gian Sotto, ang ating City Council, mga kinatawan sa Kongreso, mga department heads, lahat ng kawani ng lokal na pamahalaan, at lahat ng QCitizens...Para sa inyo ang pangalawang terminong ito (Progress is possible with your help - Vice Mayor Gian Sotto, our City Council, representatives in Congress, department heads, all local government staff, and all QCitizens... This second term is for you),” she added.
She also said that they will continue to make government services accessible to all residents.
“Our single minded purpose is to ensure that no shortcuts and quick fixes would ever derail us,” she said.
“Kasabay nito, inilapit natin ang serbisyo sa mga mamamayan sa pamamagitan ng district action office...Sa lawak ng ating lungsod, hindi na kailangang dumayo pa sa city hall para lang makaabot sa tao ang lahat ng benepisyo (At the same time, we have brought our services closer to the people through the district action office. As our city is large, people no longer need to go to the city hall to receive all their benefits),” Belmonte added.
She announced that the city government received “Unqualified Opinion” by the Commission on Audit (COA) for 2021.
“Napasakamay ko na ang report ng Commission on Audit para sa taong 2021 at tayo ay muling tumanggap ng “Unqualified o clean opinion” sa ikalawang sunod na taon (I have received the report of the Commission on Audit for the year 2021 and we have again received an “Unqualified or clean opinion” for the second consecutive year),”she said.
“Ibig sabihin, naging malinis at walang bahid ng katiwalian ang ating pamamahala (This means our government has been clean and free of corruption),” she added.
Present also in the oath-taking ceremony were Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Romando Artes, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Chief Maj. Gen. Felipe Natividad, Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Officials, and Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto.
Belmonte and Sotto will begin their second term on July 1.