Belmonte and his team from the Lakas-CMD party were the special guests of the candidate’s forum hosted by the QCCCI and the Quezon City Subdivision Owners Association at the Sulo Hotel.
Belmonte, who has been the most outstanding city mayor in the Philippines for 2003, briefed the business sector on progress of the city in the past three years.
Nathan Zulueta, QCCCI president, said the business sector is taking a proactive stance by hosting a series of fora featuring candidates from various political parties.
Belmonte, Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista and the Lakas congressional candidates for the four districts in the city — Berna Romulo Puyat, lawyer Matias Defensor, Mary Ann Susano and Nanette Castillo- Daza — presented to the business sector their platforms of government.
Last week, the business community met with former Mayor Ismael Mathay and his team in the opposition Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP). they also presented their views on various issues affecting the city.
Candidates were asked about their positions and programs on major concerns of the city, such as peace and order, environmental management, traffic and street vendor problems, drug abuse, livelihood and employment programs, business and realty taxes as well as their programs on population.
"Currently, the city is faced with various development challenges greatly affecting the local economy. The city needs to properly respond to such challenges to continue to become competitive and to retain its stature as a premier city," Zulueta said. – Perseus Echeminada