Hon. Joy Belmonte

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

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.

Let's restore the trust of our people in government. Show them that the government exists to protect them and promote their welfare.

She introduced her 14-point agenda which focuses on human and social services, economic development, environment and climate change, infrastructure, and institutional development.

The 14-point agenda of the Belmonte administration: Deliver responsive, efficient and cost-effective social services; build more homes; provide better healthcare; ensure high quality education; empower citizens of every gender and social class; build a safer and more resilient city; make Quezon City the preferred destination for businesses; create new jobs across more businesses; develop growth hubs; build a livable, green and sustainable city; build essential infrastructure; be a model of good governance; professionalize and strengthen the Quezon City workforce; and listen to our citizens and know what they need.

Ang lahat ng ating nagawa at gagawin pa sa mga susunod na taon ay bunga ng hindi nagbabagong pangako natin sa isa't isa - na lagi tayong magtutulungan para sa kabutihan ng lahat. I am proud of our accomplishments as a city, because these are the results of our collective efforts and commitment for positive change.

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 to 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 the 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.

Under her leadership, the city has received numerous accolades from important award-giving bodies and national government agencies, including its fifth consecutive Unmodified Opinion - the highest audit rating issued by the Commission on Audit (COA) to agencies with accurate and complete financial statements.

QC has established its reputation as a leader in advancing quality education in the Philippines by earning the Seal of Good Education Governance (SGEG) for two consecutive years and the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) for its best practices.

Additionally, the LGU was named the Overall Most Competitive Local Government Unit for four consecutive years, joining the hall of fame in 2019, and the Most Business-Friendly City, which affirms its unwavering support and guarantee of growth for all enterprises in the city.

In 2023, QC Mayor Joy Belmonte received the Champion of the Earth for Policy Leadership title - one of the UN's highest environmental honors. She is also among Forbes' inaugural 50 Sustainability Leaders in 2024 for her ambitious urban climate agendas, and in 2025, she is listed as one of Tatler's Most Influential in the Public Service & Law industry.

Serving on her final mayoral term, Mayor Joy Belmonte has been elected as the Executive Vice President of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) and the National Chairperson for the years 2025-2028 of one of ULAP's primary member leagues, the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP).

Apart from being one of the Mayors for Good Governance (M4GG) convenors, Mayor Belmonte is recognized as a Kaya Natin Champion and is elected Chairperson of Kaya Natin! Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership.

Mayor Belmonte completed her high school studies at the Poveda Learning Centre. She got her Social Sciences degree from the Ateneo de Manila University, a Master's Degree in Philosophy from the Institute of Archaeology, University College in London, and another Master's degree in Museum Studies from the Leicester University in the United Kingdom.

We will serve with our heart; but to hit our goals, we have to plan with our heads.

Mayor Joy Belmonte addresses a diverse array of advocacies, particularly focusing on the protection and upholding of women's and children's rights, gender equality, digitalization, environmental conservation, sustainable development, healthcare, inclusive economic growth, mental health, culture, and the arts.

Her advocacies involve pioneering citizen-centered programs, such as the Q City Bus that offers free rides; QCitizen Homes, which initiates affordable housing and condominium projects; QC ID, which provides QCitizens easier and faster access to city services and programs, and QC E-services that streamlines the government processes, for more efficient transactions.

She has also pushed for the implementation of various gender and women-related initiatives, such as the No Woman Left Behind, for Female Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL), and the QC Protection Center for victims of gender-based violence and abuse to all women, children, and LGBTQ members of the city.

A known ally and gender advocate leader, Mayor Belmonte launched the Right to Care Card, which empowers resident queer couples to make medical decisions for their partners through a Special Power of Attorney (SPA), and special events that celebrate queer love with the Love Laban Pride Festival and Commitment Ceremony that allows LGBTQIA+ couples to exchange vows.

Quezon City, under her leadership, continues to promote entrepreneurship, employment, and livelihood programs, designed to empower and provide a sustainable future for every sector in the city. Among her projects are the Tindahan ni Ate Joy, Proudly Original Products of Quezon City (POP-QC), and Pangkabuhayang QC.

Listed among Forbes' inaugural 50 Sustainability Leaders, Mayor Belmonte introduced remarkable programs and policies like the inauguration of parks and open spaces, Solarization of QC-owned Properties, QC Green Building Code, Trash to Cashback, and Kilo/s Kyusi: Kilo Store ng Bayan as part of her sustainability and environmental protection initiatives.

Furthermore, as a means to help families reduce their food costs while promoting ways to transform organic waste into fertilizer, then-Vice Mayor Belmonte started the Joy of Urban Farming in 2010, where urban dwellers can still farm even with a small space by using vertical gardens, containers, and other farming techniques. Equally important is the Textile Sustainability and Circularity Ordinance, where the city institutionalizes fabric circularity hubs that reduce textile waste and generate livelihood for the residents.

Apart from granting various learning and tutoring programs, such as the Zero Illiteracy Sa QC Tutoring Program, and scholarship opportunities to QCitizen students, Mayor Belmonte champions education by distributing grade-level customized learning kits to students and devices, including laptops and printers to teachers.

The city is enhancing its digital learning initiatives by forming partnerships with local and international organizations. It provides continuous learning opportunities through various training sessions and seminars designed to improve residents' knowledge and skills. Additionally, the Learning Recovery Trust Fund has been established to support recovery programs for public schools in QC.

In healthcare, QC provides essential healthcare services and prioritizes the holistic well-being of QCitizens through various programs, including Free Medicines, Free HIV Self Testing Kits, Human Milk Bank, Calorie Labeling, and Intensive Cancer Screening Programs.

QC also steps up its disaster preparation, prevention, and mitigation efforts by creating its own Drainage Master Plan and launching IRISE UP: Real-time Calamity Monitoring System - a real-time monitoring system, allowing the city government to track potential incoming calamities.

For culture and the arts, she initiated the QCinema Film Festival, which encourages independent filmmakers to produce screenplays that will promote the city and showcase 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. These children receive scholarships in dance, voice, Filipino instruments, and guitar instruction, participating in various festivals and competitions, both local and international, garnering citations and honors for the city under the care of Quezon City Performing Arts.

Following her consistent pursuit of these advocacies has led the city to earn its UNESCO Creative City of Film recognition in 2025, making it the first Southeast Asian city to earn the title.

In that same year, QC became a member of the UNESCO Pilot MIL Cities international network, which consists of local governments dedicated to promoting information literacy as a basis for inclusive and sustainable development.

In 2026, the city was recognized as one of the Global Network of Learning Cities due to its commitment to promoting inclusive education, ranging from basic to higher education, and to fostering a culture of lifelong learning among its citizens.

Through these various programs and policies, Quezon City continues to exemplify a dynamic and evolving urban environment that meets the diverse needs of every QCitizen.

The People's Day is the Mayor's day with the citizens of Quezon City. The mayor accepts QCitizens for a dialogue one day a week to listen to their concerns and suggestions. Individuals and groups are welcome to have an audience with the mayor.

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