Quezon City allots P12.3 billion for social services

MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City government will allocate P12.3 billion for social services for next year, Mayor Joy Belmonte said yesterday.

The city council approved this week the proposed P27.8-billion budget for 2020, 23 percent higher than this year’s P21.5 billion.

Belmonte said funding for social service programs would increase from the P8.4-billion allocation this year.

She said the city government increased the budget for medicine and medical supplies to P2.2 billion; medical assistance from P3,000 to P5,000, and burial assistance from P10,000 to P25,000.

“From Day One, I knew that the bedrock of this administration would be service to the people,” Belmonte said. “We will build on our gains in the past, continue the programs benefiting our people and create new and sustainable ones.”

A breakdown of the proposed budget showed that P10.1 billion will be allocated for general public services; P4.2 billion for economic services and P1.2 billion for the legislative branch.

Despite the additional funding, Belmonte said they would not burden the residents and businesses with higher taxes.

Assistant city administrator for finance Don Javillonar said the local government would focus on the delivery of social services, especially to the poor.