MANILA, Philippines — Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte has expressed support for the planned anti-corruption protests to be launched by civil society groups, students and other organizations on Sept. 21.
“I always support freedom of expression and freedom of speech and assembly here in Quezon City. I am consistent in supporting these kinds of activities, these issues,” Belmonte said at a recent press briefing.
She said such activities allow the voice of the people to reach the authorities.
Belmonte said she is in coordination with some of the organizers of the protests, including the one that will be held at the People Power Monument in Quezon City.
A separate protest is also being organized in Rizal Park in Manila.
“I just hope this will not lead to violence like what happened in Nepal where many lives were lost,” she said. “We can protest and express our sentiments in a peaceful manner.”
Belmonte had expressed anger over the flood control projects implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways in Quezon City.
Out of the 331 projects implemented in the city from 2022 to 2025, an assessment conducted by the local government found that 305 were not aligned with the city’s drainage masterplan.
“I am outraged that money has been squandered,” Belmonte said. “I am deeply aggrieved, I am profoundly saddened, that there are people without conscience who thought of wasting these funds – fully knowing that this money could change lives – just to profit and enrich themselves.”
The city government has submitted its findings to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, which was formed by President Marcos to investigate anomalous flood mitigation projects.
Quezon City has also partnered with the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers-QC and the University of the Philippines Resilience Institute to determine the viability of the flood control projects and minimize wastage of public funds.