Hon. Joy Belmonte

About

Ma. Josefina “Joy” Belmonte is currently serving as the 11^th elected mayor of Quezon City since 2019.

Belmonte married Raymond Alimurung, the first Filipino CEO of Lazada Philippines. They have a son.
  
Mayor Belmonte believes that the success of the city lies upon having trustworthy leadership, data and information-driven decision making, and an efficient and well-functioning government system that is worthy of the public trust. 

Her style of leadership is one that is heavily rooted in the needs and wants of every QCitizen. She strengthened people’s participation by involving many sectoral organizations, civil society groups, and other stakeholders. 

During the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, Mayor Joy Belmonte proved that through the dedicated service of the local government officials and genuine concern for its constituents, the city will survive all hurdles thrown against it. 

Prior to becoming the chief executive of Quezon City, she served as the vice mayor from 2010-2019. She presided over a City Council, which has been regarded as the Most Outstanding in the Philippines, in accordance with the exemplary standards of the Local Legislative Awards of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

As vice mayor, she was also the chairperson of the Quezon City Anti-Drug Abuse Advisory Council (QCADAAC), which has been recognized as one of the most effective nationwide in addressing the problem of illegal drugs.  The QCADAAC obtained a perfect functionality score in the National Anti-Drug Abuse Council Performance Awards given by the DILG in January 2019.

The mayor’s advocacies cover a wide spectrum but are especially focused on the protection and upholding of the rights of women and children, gender fairness, economic empowerment of women, mental health, culture, and the arts. 

She pushed for the establishment of the QC Protection Center for Women, Children, and LGBT++ (lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgenders) as a one-stop-shop facility for victims of abuse.  Located at the Quezon City General Hospital, the facility provides legal services, police assistance, medical assistance, medico-legal examinations, counseling and psychiatric evaluation, and referral to a temporary shelter program.

She saw the need for nursing mothers who have to transact business at Quezon City Hall for a breastfeeding station and ensured that one such facility was put up at City hall. The facility complies with DOH requirements and has a play area suited for small children of nursing mothers. 

As a means to help families in the city to reduce their food costs, as well as promote ways to transform organic waste into fertilizer, then-Vice Mayor Belmonte established the Joy of Urban Farming in 2010.  It is a program designed to show that, even with a small space, urban dwellers can still farm using vertical gardens, containers, and other farming techniques.  The program promotes the spread of urban farms in more parts of the city, as it trains more than 6,000 people annually on backyard gardening and eco-waste management. With the help of the Department of Education, the project is being implemented in schools through the “Gulayan sa Paaralan” (school vegetable garden) initiative.  The urban farms can also be found in different barangays, churches, and areas maintained by various non-government organizations from Districts 1 to 6.

Her advocacy to promote livelihood programs and entrepreneurship is designed to empower and provide a sustainable future for indigent women, for those rehabilitated from drug abuse, and for inmates who seek a better life upon release from jail, among others.  Among her projects for promoting entrepreneurship is the Tindahan ni Ate Joy, Lipad (Local Inclusiveness Project for the Advancement and Development)-Pinay Program, the Artisan Academy, and Lazada E-commerce online selling.

The QCinema Film Festival is another project that she initiated.  It encourages independent filmmakers to produce screenplays that will promote the city. A Circle Competition is held, where winners receive grants to help them produce their films.  It has evolved into an international film festival held annually in the city, which showcases local and international films, documentaries, and short films. Even before she became Vice Mayor, Mayor Joy Belmonte had been supporting the training and exposure of underprivileged children in the city in various art forms.  Through the Quezon City Performing Arts, these children receive scholarships in dance, voice, Filipino instruments, and guitar instruction.  These scholars have participated in various festivals and competitions, both local and international, garnering citations and honor for the city.

Belmonte took charge of Quezon City’s COVID-19 pandemic response beginning in 2020. Free COVID-19 tests were made available for its residents and workers and the city’s molecular laboratory was built for speedy release of coronavirus test results. The local government had also provided financial aid to employees of high-risk establishments affected by lockdowns, and care kits to closed-care setting facilities grappling with virus outbreaks.