Belmonte vows best last 3 years for Quezon City

MANILA, Philippines — Following a historic victory in the May midterm elections, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte yesterday began her third and final term with a vision of an even better city.

Belmonte, Vice Mayor Gian Sotto and other local officials took their oath of office before Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo.

In her inaugural speech, Belmonte recalled the challenges she faced after she assumed as mayor for the first time in 2019.

“It was clear from the very start – the city government needed to meet the people where they were. At the time, it meant addressing their growing distrust in government,” she said. “From day one, we made the bold choice to veer away from traditional forms of governance. We broke away from the same cycles and practices that have so long made bureaucracy complacent and detached from the people.”

Belmonte said those who doubted her approach were proven wrong, citing initiatives that resulted in a city that is more transparent, participatory and genuinely responsive.

“Six years and two terms later, I stand again before all of you proud of the gains we have made together and humbled by the overwhelming mandate granted by the people of Quezon City,” she said.

“We have established our reputation as the bearer of that hope, not only for our people, but the rest of the nation. We can proudly say, Quezon City is now the standard of local governance,” the mayor added.

Belmonte made history in the recent elections after receiving an unprecedented one million votes for a mayoralty candidate.

“This fresh and historic mandate is a gift that should not be taken lightly,” she said.

Belmonte vowed to further strengthen social services programs for QCitizens, including education, livelihood, housing and health care.

“Looking toward what’s ahead of us, it’s clear that there’s no time to waste. Let’s make this last three years the best for our beloved city. Together, we will build a Quezon City that is not only stronger and more progressive, but also kinder and more hopeful – a city that proves every single day that no challenge is impossible and no dream is too far to reach,” she said.

“It is the honor of my life, the greatest honor ever given by God to me, to serve you. I will not waste this opportunity to serve all of you,” Belmonte added.

Among those who attended the oath-taking and inauguration were Belmonte’s father, former speaker and Quezon City mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr., as well as other members of the family.