Accompanied by Councilors Eric Medina and Ramon Medalla and city officials, Belmonte partook of lunch consisting of adobong pusit, steamed vegetables and sugbu courtesy of barangay officials and residents of Gulod in Novaliches.
The mayor, for his part, distributed bagful of grocery items to 1,000 resident who greeted him a happy birthday.
The mayor also visited Sitio Pajo, in Barangay Baesa, where he was met by barangay officials, led by barangay Captain Bayani Aquino. Residents in the communities sang "Happy Birthday" to the mayor who turns 67 today.
The mayor assured residents that he envisions not only the transformation of the physical structure of the city but also the economic well-being of residents.
"Ang pagbabagong ito ay hindi ganap kung hindi kasama ang lahat sa atin," Belmonte told cheering residents.
Gulod Barangay Captain Ernesto Tanigue thanked the mayor for making his barangay, which had been one of the most depressed areas in the city, from a haven of informal settlers to into a "barangay of man."
He said that in 2001, prior to the assumption of Belmonte as mayor, about 85 percent of residents were informal settlers.
"To date the situation has reversed, with only 15 percent of the residents remaining as informal settlers," Tanigue said.
The highlight of the visit to Gulod was the inauguration of the newly concreted Dr. Villareal street .
The mayor also announced that the city government is set to distribute of land titles during the city’s 64th foundation anniversary on Oct. 12.
Belmonte said the distribution of land titles manifests the city government’s continuing efforts to uplift the living conditions of the poor.
He pointed out that progress must have direct impact on the lives of the people.
"Kailangan maramdaman natin lahat ang pag-unlad ng ating lungsod," Belmonte said. – Perseus Echeminada