Belmonte leads MLQ Bantayog awardees

The Quezon City Press Club (QCPC) conferred the other night the prestigious Manuel L. Quezon Bantayog Award to Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr., Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista and six councilors for their outstanding legislative and public service work.

In simple ceremonies held at the Albert Hall of the Quezon City Hall, Belmonte, Bautista and the councilors received the Bantayog trophy, symbolizing dedication to public service.

QCPC president Jing Villamente handed the special Bantayog awards to Belmonte and Bautista for making the city as the richest and the best managed city in the country.

The six most outstanding councilors chosen by reporters covering the city hall beat are Bernadette Herrera-Dy of District 1, Antonio Inton Jr., Janet Malaya, Restituto Malangen of District 4, Godofredo Liban and Ramon Medalla of District 2.

The MLQ Bantayog Award, which started 13 years ago, is given to six outstanding councilors selected by print and radio reporters covering the city.

The councilors are chosen based on quality of legislation authored, quality of community service, participation in council deliberation, media relations and council attendance.

Three Bantayog awards elevate a councilor to the Hall of Fame. To qualify for the award, city councilors are asked to submit their achievement reports for the year.

Belmonte lauded the QCPC for keeping alive the tradition, saying it gives recognition to a job well done by members of the city council.

Malaya who was among the awardees wept upon receiving the trophy, saying she never expected to be among this year’s awardees.

"It was a pleasant surprise," she said.