Belmonte vows improved services, programs in Quezon City

MANILA, Philippines — Reelected Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte has vowed to further improve the programs and services of the local government for its constituents.

“I humbly thank our QCitizens for their renewed trust and support for the change that we have started,” Belmonte said in a speech during her proclamation on Tuesday night.

“Your votes are clear proof that you feel the city’s programs and projects over the past three years. It is also a sign that you want to continue the reforms and good governance at city hall,” she added.

Belmonte promised to surpass what they have done in her first term as the city’s chief executive.

“Now that you have entrusted me to lead Quezon City again for the next three years, expect that the services from the local government will improve further,” she said.

“Although it will not be easy, we will continue to fix the old and crooked system. To the best of our ability, we will serve all QCitizens whoever they voted for,” the mayor added.

Official count showed that Belmonte won with 662,611 votes against 419,064 votes obtained by her closest rival, outgoing Anakalusugan party-list Rep. Michael Defensor.

Also proclaimed was Belmonte’s running mate Vice Mayor Gian Sotto.

The official votes cast for Sotto and the candidates for councilors have yet to be released.

Partial results from the Commission on Elections transparency server based on 97.35 percent of the election results transmitted showed that Sotto garnered 578,607 votes against outgoing councilor Winnie Castelo’s 424,533 votes.

The winners in the congressional race have yet to be proclaimed. Leading in the partial count were actor Arjo Atayde for District 1, Ralph Raffy Tulfo Jr. for District 2, Councilor Franz Pumaren for District 3, Councilor PM Vargas for District 5 and Councilor Marivic Co-Pilar for District 6.

The congressional race in the city’s fourth district remains a tight battle, with former councilor Marvin Rillo slightly ahead against reelectionist Bong Suntay with 80,901 and 79,418 votes, respectively.