Joy Belmonte, other Metro Manila mayors sworn into office

MANILA, Philippines — Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte will create an internal audit team as her first order of business as the city government is expected to grapple with budget limitations in the last six months of the year.

Belmonte, in her inauguration administered yesterday by Associate Justice Estela Perlas-Bernabe, said the city has only P1.6 billion remaining funds or P516 for each of the 3.1 million residents.

She said she would issue her first executive order to create an internal audit service under the mayor’s office.

“I believe the people of Quezon City deserve to know the true state of the local government by informing them of the fiscal position of the city,” she said in her speech. 

While the city currently has P26.5 billion in general funds, Belmonte said the local government has P14.3 billion in obligations and P10.4 billion in projected expenses.

She said around P4.6 billion is in trust and can only be used for specific programs.

The mayor’s office has a budget of P53 million for infrastructure – just enough for a four-story multi-purpose building, according to Belmonte.  

The mayor said she would ask the city council to pass a supplemental budget ordinance to ensure the success of her first 100 days in office. 

Belmonte asked for patience from her constituents in the first six months of her administration.

She vowed to focus on four priority areas in her first 100 days in office: housing, health, education and social services.

Sotto, Zamora, Isko take oath

In photos from top, Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto takes his oath accompanied by his parents Vic Sotto and Coney Reyes, while San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora, Taguig Mayor Lino Cayetano and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno are sworn into office yesterday. EDD GUMBAN, MIGUEL DE GUZMAN, MICHAEL VARCAS

Two newly elected mayors who ended the political dynasties in Pasig and San Juan cities officially assumed their posts yesterday.

Vico Sotto and Francis Zamora took their oath as mayors of Pasig and San Juan, respectively.

Sotto unseated mayor Bobby Eusebio whose political clan ruled Pasig for 27 years.

Zamora defeated vice mayor Janella Estrada, granddaugther of former president and outgoing Manila mayor Joseph Estrada whose family ruled San Juan for 50 years.

Zamora took his oath before Sen. Panfilo Lacson at the Filoil Flying V. Sports Center.

Sotto was sworn into office by Commission on Audit Chairman Michael Aguinaldo at the Pasig Sports Complex.

In Manila, Isko Moreno took his oath as the 27th mayor of the city before Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin at the city hall.

In his inaugural speech, Moreno said he would adopt an open policy and directly communicate with his constituents.

He also vowed to eradicate corruption and enforce a one-strike policy against illegal vendors. – With Non Alquitran, Rey Galupo