Belmonte delivers 5th SOCA; assures sustained good governance

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte has assured Quezon City residents of her commitment to sustain her administration's good governance initiatives, which she attributes as the core of the city government's positive achievements, to date.

"Kung susumahin ko ang nagawa ng ating lokal na pamahalaan, masasabi ko pong malayo na ang ating narating, ngunit malayo pa ang ating maaaring abutin," Belmonte said during her State of the City Address (SOCA) on Friday.

"Hindi lang natin natatanaw ang magandang kinabukasan. Ramdam na ramdam na ito ng ating mga mamamayan," she added, stressing that the local government's relentless good governance efforts is reflected in the city's increasing revenues.

In 2018, before she assumed the city's top position, Belmonte reported that Quezon City collected only P16 billion in revenues from local sources such as taxes, businesses, and other fees.

When she took over the following year, the city's locally sourced revenue grew to P19.3 billion. Quezon City's income has consistently grown since then, and as of October, P20.3 billion had already been collected with two months left in 2023.

"Sa pagtaya ng City Treasurer's Office, lagpas P21 billion ang ating kikitain mula sa local revenue sources ngayong taon," she said.

The Mayor said the city's revenues have been put to good use, with 38 percent or P13.4 billion going to social services, some P5 billion for education, and P3.4 billion for infrastructure development.

Despite the increase in budget, the city government has ensured that the funds are properly utilized and accounted for down to the last centavo, as evidenced by the city having received a third straight unqualified opinion from the Commission on Audit (COA), the highest audit rating that can be bestowed on a local government unit.

The local government's good governance initiatives also resulted in the registration of 10,000 new businesses, bringing the total registered businesses in the city to more than 68,000 this year.

"Sa kabuuan, umabot na sa mahigit 68,000 ang rehistradong negosyo sa lungsod ngayong taon, halos kasing dami na ng negosyo bago tayo pinadapa ng pandemya," she said.

Belmonte highlighted the city's efforts to bring service delivery closer to the public through its six action centers, which further brings down various city services to the communities almost daily.

"Hindi na kinailangang magtungo sa main city hall ang isa't kalahating milyong QCitizens, dahil sa mismong barangay o distrito nila, nabigyan na sila ng kinakailangang tulong," Belmonte said.

The Mayor also mentioned the continued automation of the city's various services to hasten the delivery of processes and eliminate corruption.

"Sa ating ikalawang termino, itinuloy-tuloy na natin ang automation kaya dalawampu't apat na serbisyo o transaksyon na ang pwedeng gawin online sa pamamagitan ng QC E-Services," she said.

She attributed the 350 percent increase in capital investments worth around P51 billion in 2022 to the city's relentless automation strategy.

Belmonte also enumerated the city government's gains when it comes to healthcare, transportation, infrastructure, peace and order, disaster relief, and environmental protection.

She urged the city's legislators, members of the executive department, city hall employees, and barangay leaders to continue working hand-in-hand to maintain the city's development as a smart, sustainable, resilient, safe, and future-ready city.

"Isa lang ang tinitiyak ko sa inyo: hinding-hindi ko babaliin ang aking paninindigan sa mabuting pamamahala o good governance, dahil mas mahalaga sa akin ang kapakanan ng mga taga-lungsod Quezon, ang integridad ng aking pamilya, at ang sagradong tungkulin na ipinagkatiwala ninyo sa akin," she ended.