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‘No debt’: Mayor Belmonte lists QC gains in State of the City Address

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Jan Escosio

MANILA, Philippines — “We have fundamentally rewritten the financial story of our city,” Quezon City Mayor Maria Josefina “Joy” Belmonte said on Monday in her 2026 State of the City Address (SOCA), which she delivered before the City Council

She noted that her city’s budget has more than doubled since 2019, achieved without imposing new taxes and while maintaining zero debt. It grew from around ₱22.75 billion in 2019 to ₱45.5 billion this year, with a proposed budget of ₱48.5 billion for 2027.

The city has also achieved six consecutive years of Unqualified Opinions from the Commission on Audit (COA).

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It also ranked No. 1 nationwide in Locally Sourced Revenues from ₱19.3 billion in 2019 to ₱28.4 billion in 2025, for which the Department of Finance recognized it as a Hall of Famer in Outstanding Revenue Performance.

Housing

More than 34,000 families have received housing security since 2019 — already half the combined housing output of the past three decades of administrations.

The 12-storey Urban Deca Tower D in Barangay Commonwealth, with over 1,000 units, is set for turnover this year.

The city acquired 22 land properties this year for its Direct Sale program.

Targeted for relocation by 2027 are 195 families living under bridges and in danger zones, and 900 housing units have been reserved for priority informal settler families in resettlement sites.

Health services

The allocation for health services accounted for 11 percent of the city budget, or ₱5.5 billion.

More than 129,000 breast cancer and 40,000 cervical cancer screenings have been conducted since 2024.

Cancer care funding increased from ₱400,000 in 2023 to ₱36 million in 2027.

All of the city health centers are now accredited by the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (Yakap).

A total of 28 health centers will be fully rehabilitated by 2027, while new district pharmacies are also planned.

The Quezon City General Hospital was recognized among the Philippines’ top hospitals by Newsweek and Statista.

Education

The education allotment accounts for 15 percent of the city budget, in line with UNESCO standards, as Quezon City is one of only four Philippine cities in the UNESCO Global Learning Network.

Again, the city got its Seal of Good Education Governance this year, and more than 60,000 scholars are supported, producing 21,000 college graduates since 2019.

Teacher allowances are set to increase from ₱1,500 to ₱2,000 per month starting next year, while learning kits were distributed to 400,000 public school learners.

In response to school violence incidents nationwide, A New Safe Schools Whole-of-Community Framework was launched.

The Quezon City University enrollment grew from 7,000 in 2019 to over 12,000 this academic year.

The QC Scholarship Program has supported over 60,000 scholars, producing more than 21,000 graduates since 2019.

A ₱368 million agreement was signed with DepEd for 100 new classrooms, while a ₱69 million donation came from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

Peace and order

Project Aurora connects over 3,000 CCTV cameras city-wide, centralized in an AI-powered command center. Helpline 122 received over 71,000 calls this year, while QCPD’s digital ISAV system has processed more than 16,000 records to track repeat offenders.

Belmonte reiterated her Zero Tolerance Policy against abuse of power by law enforcement personnel as she immediately dissolved Task Force Disiplina following the recent Batasan killing.

Major reforms are underway across all public safety units.

Transportation

The highly acclaimed QCity Bus has recorded over 51 million rides, saving commuters up to P2,000 per month. It now operates 88 buses, including 16 fully electric units, across eight routes and 151 timed bus stops.

Flood control

According to Belmonte, the Quezon City Drainage Master Plan combines structural and nature-based flood solutions, such as Project Terra, a climate-resilient flood management and environmental program that repurposes public facilities, such as basketball courts, as rainwater detention basins.

Five new community detention basins are under construction, while eight more are under study.

More than 370 parks and open spaces were built or rehabilitated, and 12.6 kilometers of sidewalks were rehabilitated — which is 53 percent of the current phase’s target.

The “Works by Administration” model saved the city ₱66.35 million, or about 54 percent, and cut project timelines by 40 days.

Environment

Quezon City received the Human-Centricity Silver Prize at the Seoul Smart City Prize 2026.

More than 30 percent of Quezon City has been converted into green spaces, with more than 600,000 trees planted.

The waste diversion rate reached 70.2 percent, surpassing the 2026 target of 67.5 percent.

The Trash to Cashback program has now recovered over 1 million kilograms of recyclables in five years.

Solar power systems are now installed in 36 public facilities, generating over 3.3 megawatts at peak and saving the city nearly ₱14.8 million in utility costs.

The city has achieved a 96 percent overall client satisfaction rating as of June 2026, with its District Action Offices delivering over four million in-house services.

Awarded PRIME-HRM Level 2 recognition by the Civil Service Commission, nearly 3,000 accredited civil society organizations now co-create policy with city government.

The Participatory Budgeting Ordinance has been enacted, with full implementation targeted by 2028.

READ: Quezon City: The middle ground that works

Reforms beyond administrations

In her closing remarks, Belmonte reflected on seven years of public service, emphasizing that the true measure of success lies not in electoral victories, but in reforms that outlast any single administration.

“Let’s protect our victories. Let’s continue to maintain a Quezon City where every citizen lives in dignity,” she said in Filipino.

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The mayor credited the collective effort of city government employees, barangay leaders, civil society partners, and more than three million residents of Quezon City for the city’s continued progress. /atm

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