Mayor Maria Josefina “Joy” Belmonte vowed to pursue the city government’s priority to improve the quality of life of all QCitizens.
Mayor Joy Belmonte delivers her 6th SOCA on Monday, October 21. (Quezon City government)
Belmonte emphasized made the vow when she delivered her 6th State of the City Address (SOCA) on Monday, October 21, at the M.I.C.E. building, Quezon City Hall complex.
“Sa P39 billion na naaprubahang budget para sa 2024, higit kalahati ang nakalaan sa social services, sa kalusugan, edukasyon, pangkabuhayan, at pabahay, sa agarang pagtugon sa panahon ng krisis, at sa suporta ng mga kasamang iba’t-ibang sektor (Out of the P39 billion approved budget for 2024, more than half is allocated to social services, health, education, livelihood, and housing, immediate response during crisis, and to support various sectors),” she said.
(Quezon City government)
“Consistent nang priority ito sa nakalipas na mga taon dahil una sa agenda natin ang quality of life ng ating mga mamamayan (This had been our consistent priority in previous years - making better the quality of life of our citizens is first on our agenda),” she added.
Belmonte shared that the city is operating with zero debt since she assumed office in 2019.
“Mas mataas ang budget na ito, kumpara sa pondo natin five years ago. Pero hindi tayo nagtaas ng buwis, hindi tayo nagpataw ng dagdag na pasanin sa ating kapwa QCitizen. At wala tayong pinagkakautangan, zero utang sa Quezon City. Ang susi, maayos at masinop tayo sa funding na pinagkatiwala sa atin (This budget is higher compared to the one that we had five years ago. But we did not raise taxes, we did not impose an extra burden on our fellow QCitizens. And we have zero debt in Quezon City. The key here is the orderly and prudent use of the fund that was entrusted to us),” she stressed.
Belmonte also highlighted the city’s digitalization efforts to provide better services to QCitizens.
“Malaking bagay ang ating digitalization efforts na sinimulan natin para gawing mas convenient ang mga proseso habang binabawasan ang face-to-face interactions para iwas lagay at red tape. Accessible kahit saan ang ating new city services portal kung saan available na ang 145 online services at transactions ng ating city government (Our digitalization efforts have helped make processes more convenient while reducing face-to-face interactions to avoid red tape. Our new city services portal is accessible anywhere through the 145 online services and where transactions of our city government are available),” she said.
“I believe we are the most automated city in the whole Philippines,” she added.
She also shared the city government's programs for business owners such accessible application and renewal of business permits, and her support for over 60,000 QCitizens, including micro-entrepreneurs, solo-parents, overseas Filipino workers and their families, persons with disabilities, and indigents with a total of P621 million in capital assistance.
“All of these programs are proof that we are making economic empowerment within everyone's reach, especially for those who need it the most. Kapag sinabi natin, kasama ka sa pagunlad, hindi lang ito slogan, kundi isang pangako na ating pinaninindigan (All of these programs are proof that we are making economic empowerment within everyone's reach, especially for those who need it the most. When we say you will be part of this development, it is not just a slogan, but a promise that we will keep),” she said.
Present during the SOCA were former speaker Sonny Belmonte Jr., Vice Mayor Gian Sotto, district representatives, councilors, and local government officials.