Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte reaffirmed her commitment to advancing women’s empowerment and economic opportunities in celebration of International Women’s Day and National Women’s Month.

In her State of the Women’s Address, Belmonte highlighted the city’s efforts to uplift women through education, employment, and health initiatives.

“Our women are now more financially independent. Based on our online business registry, the number of female entrepreneurs in the city has increased by more than 4,000 since 2021,” she said.

Women now lead 40 percent of Quezon City’s 70,000 businesses, providing jobs for over 200,000 female residents. Beneficiaries of livelihood programs like Pangkabuhayang QC and Tindahan ni Ate Joy grew from 11,000 in 2023 to over 14,000 last year. The city also facilitated over 31,000 job placements for women.

Belmonte emphasized the city’s focus on education, noting that 63 percent of Quezon City University’s 3,000 graduates in 2023 were female. Since 2019, over 39,000 students have received scholarships, 64 percent of them women.

On healthcare, she highlighted free medical check-ups, maintenance medicines, and vaccinations to combat leading causes of death among women. She also cited the city’s Integrated Cancer Control Ordinance as a key step in improving women’s health services.

Addressing gender-based violence, she encouraged greater awareness and use of Helpline 122, noting a rise in reported cases from 7,000 in 2022 to over 10,000 in 2024.

“The fight for gender equality is a fight for all,” Belmonte said. “Together, we can create a city where every woman has a voice, dignity, and equal opportunities.”