Mayor Joy delivers State of the Environment Address 2023
Published Apr 23, 2023 04:32 am
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte has presented several programs of the local government to address climate change as well as plans for the environment and better quality of living in the city in her State of the Environment Address 2023.
“Bilang isang highly-urbanized at highly-competitive city, napakalaki ng responsibilidad Quezon City pagdating sa climate change. At habang patuloy ang ating pag-unlad, lumalaki rin ang ating pangangailangan sa resources tulad ng enerhiya at tubig. Ang resulta nito ay mas maraming greenhouse gases na magdudulot ng climate change o pagbabago ng klima (As a highly-urbanized and highly-competitive city, Quezon City bears a huge responsibility when it comes to climate change. And as we continue to develop, our need for resources such as energy and water also grows. The result is more greenhouse gases that will cause climate change) ,” Belmonte said during her State of the Environment Address posted on the city’s Facebook page on Saturday, April 22.
“Simula ng ating pamumuno noong 2019, isinama ko ang climate change at pangangalaga sa kalikasan sa aking 14-point agenda - to build, a livable, green, and sustainable city (Since the beginning of our leadership in 2019, I have included climate change and environmental protection in my 14-point agenda - to build, a livable, green, and sustainable city),” she added.
The mayor shared that in 2019, the local government has declared a “climate emergency” in Quezon City which allowed the allocation of 11-13 percent of the city’s yearly budget in programs related to climate change, reduction of carbon emission, and other environmental concern.
She also presented some of the city’s initiatives such as the Trash to
Cashback program that allows residents to turn over recyclable materials and covert them into points which they can use to pay utilities; the deployment of around 100 electric buses in eight routes in the city and over 200 electric tricycles; the establishment of the Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Department that implements sustainability initiatives and the Enhanced Local Climate Change Action Plan that sets out a strategic framework and road map to build climate resilience, pursue carbon neutrality, and provide a liveable community for the residents; prohibition of the use of plastics; and solarization of buildings in the city.
Belmonte also encouraged the residents to ride bicycles to promote active transportation and decrease emission of carbon.
She added that they are planning to extend the 90-kilometer bike lane along the city’s thoroughfares to 350 kilometers by 2030 and to deploy more electric buses and tricycles.
The city government has also renovated pathways to become pedestrian friendly and add more green spaces in the city.
Aside from the programs for transportation, the city also launched the Vote to Tote program where tarpaulins used in the 2022 elections were turned into bags by persons derived of liberty at the Quezon City Jail Female Dormitory and other communities.
The mayor also shared that the local government receive assistance from the United Kingdom government and the C40 Cities, a network of mayors in different counties collaborating to deliver urgent action to climate crisis, for the city’s Climate Action Implementation that will give prioritity to programs for energy efficiency and renewable energy in public, commercial and residential buildings.
She shared that a four-storey evacuation in Barangay Bagong Silangan is being constructed for families affected by flood; a rain water collection system to address water insufficiency; and a drainage master plan that identifies measures during flood are also being implemented.
To build a greener Quezon City, Belmonte said that they conducted tree planting activities and opened more parks in different areas in the city.
“Makakasiguro ang Quezon City na sa ilalim ng aking administrasyon, puprotrektahan natin ng lubusan ang kalikasan upang tugunan ang mga hamong dulot ng nagbabagong klima. Lahat ng mga inisyatibong ito ay maipapatupad, hindi lamang dahil sa political will ng ating admistrasyon kundi dahil din sa suporta ng mga local at international partners na katuwang natin sa mga proyektong may kinalaman sa inclusive climate action. Higit sa lahat, ang ating nakakamit na tagumpay ay bunga ng suporta ng ating mga QCitizens (Quezon City can be assured that under my administration, we will fully protect nature to meet the challenges caused by the changing climate. All of these initiatives can be implemented, not only because of the political will of our administration but also because of the support of local and international partners who collaborate with us in projects related to inclusive climate action. Above all, the success we achieve is the result of the support of our QCitizens),” Belmonte said.
“Malinaw na sa pamamagitan ng kolektibong kamalayan at aksyon sama-sama nating malalampasan at tutugunan ang ma hamon ng isang nagbabagong planeta (It is clear that through collective awareness and action we can overcome and meet the challenges of a changing planet together),” she added.
Belmonte’s 14-point agenda focuses on programs for human and social services, environment, climate change, economic development, infrastructure and institutional development.