Belmonte plots new direction for QC

Sixteen hours after he was proclaimed winner of the May 10 elections, re-elected Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. held yesterday his 100th executive staff meeting to plot the direction of the city government in the next three years.

Among the issues the mayor wants the city government to prioritize are social services, education, health and an alternative garbage disposal area in lieu of the Payatas controlled dump.

Lawyer Victoria Loanzon, special assistant to the mayor, said Belmonte also seeks a rationalization in the distribution of textbooks and chairs in the city’s elementary and public schools.

"This is in connection with the vision of the mayor to provide quality education to city residents," Loanzon told The STAR.

The mayor ordered the creation of a body that will scout for an alternative garbage disposal area that will be used by the city government after the Payatas facility shuts down in the year 2007.

The alternative site will accommodate the more than 7,000 cubic meters dumped by an average 500 trucks daily.

During yesterday’s meeting, the city planning and development office reported that a capability-building seminar for the city’s various departments will be held next month. It aims to equip the head of offices the necessary skills in delivering basic services to the city’s 2.3 million residents.

Gerardo Magat, chief of the city planning office, said they are finalizing the venue and mechanics of the three-day seminar.

Magat said the seminar will assess previous programs of the city government and at the same time plot the direction of the city government.

In his proclamation speech the other night, Belmonte vowed to pursue more programs that will benefit all sectors of the city.

He said the city government will concentrate on the implementation of social services and livelihood assistance programs for poor residents.