Belmonte: Quezon City economically resilient despite economic storm

MANILA, Philippines - Quezon City Feliciano Belmonte Jr. delivered his eighth and final State of the City Address yesterday, focusing on the city government’s rise from financial distress in the face of strong economic challenges.

“Yet here we are, standing strong, economically sound fiscally resilient and brimming with optimism about the future,” Belmonte said.

He said Quezon City owes its status as one of the country’s richest local government units to the confidence shown by its constituents and investors.

Quezon City also boasts of hosting the top information technology, business outsourcing and wellness centers in Asia, he added.

Belmonte said Quezon City set precedents in environment management with its internationally recognized Sagip-Batis cleanup program and the transformation of the Payatas dump into a model landfill with a biogas emission reduction facility, which earned the city US carbon credits.

He also reported that the city’s public school students topped national and local achievement tests by using information technology “as a tool to even up opportunities for learning.”

Belmonte also announced that the city government will construct the Quezon City Museum and erect statues of former senator Benigno Aquino Jr. and his wife, former President Corazon Aquino, to mark the city’s 70th year.

“We must seriously preserve and appreciate the heritage of our past for them they can be found our identity as well as valuable lessons for our future,” he said.        – Perseus Echeminada