Belmonte urges social justice for QC’s informal settlers

Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. urged city government officials yesterday to pursue the vision of former President Manuel L. Quezon for social justice to the poor by ensuring the delivery of basic services to informal settlers, which comprises 40 percent of the city’s population.

In his message during the 128th birth anniversary celebration of the former President at the Quezon Shrine on Eliptical Road, Diliman, Belmonte said that although the city government tops revenue collection, it also host more than 200 families of informal settlers that must be given priority.

In pursuing the vision of Quezon, he said local officials and city government employess must adopt a business management style in implementing the various development programs of his administration. During the ceremony, the mayor introduced Undersecretary Antonio Inocentes of the Department of Education (DepEd), who spoke about the role played by Quezon in promoting the national language in the country.

Yael Araneta Buencamino, a granddaugther of Quezon, expressed her thanks to the mayor for pursuing the dream of her lolo to give social justice to the poor.

During the wreathlaying ceremony, the mayor was joined by members of the city council led by Majority Leader Antonio Inton, officials from the National Historical Institute, the police, city schools division, descendants of the late President, Knights of Columbus, Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines, Rotary and Lions Clubs, QC Parks Development Foundation Inc.., Kaanak ng mga Bayaning Pilipino Inc., Boy and Girl Scouts of the Philippines Inc., D-378 and Soroptimist International of the Philippine Region.