Belmonte strengthens commitment to women鈥檚 empowerment initiatives in QC
Mayor Joy Belmonte before the QC Federation of Women’s Organization during the celebration of International Women’s Day.
In celebration of International Women’s Day and National Women’s Month, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte has renewed her commitment to enhancing programs that empower women.
During her State of the Women’s Address, Belmonte shared key achievements from the city’s initiatives that aim to provide women with economic, educational, and health opportunities.
“Our women are increasingly independent and financially capable,” she said.
She cited over 4,000 more businesses owned by women since 2021, now accounting for 40% of the city’s 70,000 enterprises, which employ over 200,000 women.
The administration also reported significant success with livelihood programs like Pangkabuhayang QC and Tindahan ni Ate Joy, impacting over 14,000 beneficiaries last year, an increase from 11,000 in 2023.
Mayor Joy Belmonte with the women members of FQCWO
Through the efforts of the QC Public Employment Service Office, the city government has provided more than 31,000 jobs to women, allowing them to earn for their family’s needs, Belmonte said.
Emphasizing education as a vehicle for equality, Belmonte said female graduates of Quezon City University constituted 63% of last year’s 3,000 graduates.
The city has also supported 39,000 scholars—from high school to postgraduate levels—64% of whom are women.
Mayor Joy Belmonte in huddles with young women leaders of QC
“Idagdag pa natin ang mga hinuhubog nating mga babaeng mag-aaral sa mga pampublikong elementarya at sekondarya na nasa mahigit 204,000, o 48 percent ng kabuuang student population sa elementarya hanggang grade 12,” she added.
(Let’s also include the young female students we are shaping in public elementary and secondary schools—over 204,000 of them, making up 48 percent of the total student population from elementary to Grade 12.)
Belmonte also addressed pressing health issues, promising continued efforts to combat common diseases affecting women through free health check-ups, vaccines, and nutrition education, alongside the city’s groundbreaking Integrated Cancer Control Ordinance.
Mayor Joy Belmonte with Muslim women members of FQCWO
Belmonte raised alarms over the increasing cases of Violence Against Women (VAW), which rose from 7,000 in 2022 to over 10,000 in 2024, stressing the need for increased awareness and accessibility to Helpline 122 for women facing abuse.
While celebrating progress, Belmonte reiterated that the struggle for gender equality is a collective effort.
“This fight is not just for women—it’s for everyone. Together, let’s build a city where each woman has a voice, dignity, freedom, and equal opportunities to succeed,” she said.
