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Quezon City


Why Quezon City is the
country’s premier city

By Ernesto G. Banawis

Quezon City bids fair to being the premier city in the country. This claim has been validated by public and private institutions which regularly monitor and conduct surveys on the progress and performance of local governments.

The Commission on Audit, in its 2004 consolidated balance sheet on 75 provinces, 117 cities and 1,419 municipalities, placed Quezon City on top of the list in terms of current assets, cash in bank, share of internal revenue allotment, gross income and net income, retaining its rank as the richest LGU, the third year in a row.

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry recently elevated Quezon City to its Hall of Fame as “the most business-friendly city,” winning the award for the third consecutive year.

The Metropolitan Bank Foundation ranks Quezon City as one of the “most livable cities in the country.”

The Department of the Interior and Local Government rates Quezon City as “the best managed city.”

Last month Mayor Feliciano Belmonte unveiled a marker proclaiming Quezon City as the “Information Technology Capital of the Philippines” at the first Cyber Park in Eastwood City. The city lays claim to having the biggest number of IT-related establishments, including call centers and the biggest number of IT professionals.

The biggest and long-established educational institutions offering information technology courses and computer education are based in Quezon City.

A modern IT training center, financed by the South Korean government, was inaugurated last Saturday by South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun and President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at the QC Polytechnic University.

Quezon City’s economy is booming. With a base market of 2.4 million residents and a land area of over 16,000 hectares (five times bigger than Makati City) this city is the only urban community in Metropolitan Manila that has the best potential for continuing growth and development.

The biggest and busiest supermarkets and commercial establishments, notably SM and Robinsons, are strategically located all over the city. Economic growth centers are visible on Morato Avenue, the restaurant row; in Banawe, where the suppliers of automotive spare parts have been doing brisk business all these years; in Novaliches and Fairview, where hundreds of new business establishments have sprouted in the last three years; and in Cubao, where the Araneta Center maintains its importance as a commercial center.

There are close to 60,000 business establishments in Quezon City.

The city government and the business community recently completed plans to set up a central business district, at the center of Quezon City, at the huge prime real estate bounded by EDSA, North Avenue, East Avenue and the Quezon Memorial Circle.

Quezon City is also the center of the entertainment industry.

The news programs and variety shows seen on every television screen all over the country are beamed from ABS-CBN, GMA, NBN and other TV and radio stations based in the city.

The most exciting entertainment nightspots and karaoke joints are found on Quezon Avenue, Tomas Morato, Timog and West Avenue.

The installation of a transparent business climate and a marked improvement in infrastructure facilities has spurred this tremendous progress and development.

The man who deserves the credit for the city’s remarkable progress is Mayor Feli*ciano R. Belmonte.

Belmonte has displayed a strong political will to realize his vision to make Quezon City a modern urban community.

After installing efficiency systems in all the vital operations of the city’s bureaucracy he forged a working agreement with the leaders of the business community to chart the future of Quezon City.

What makes Belmonte’s success astounding is the fact that when he assumed office in July 2001, Quezon City had a negative cash balance of P10.35 million and overdue obligations amounting to P2.65 billion. He also inherited a budget deficit of over P970 million.

In less than a year, he managed to cut down the budget deficit to just P100 million and paid half of the city’s obligations.

For the last three years, Quezon City has enjoyed a surplus budget, the first time in its history.

Common sense, according to Belmonte, dictates that one should not spend more than what he earns. His mantra is simple: earn more, spend less.

Adhering to a policy of rigid fiscal discipline and an equally demanding work ethic, Mayor Belmonte exacts value for every peso spent. He demands good service for every peso a city employee receives.

Methodical and focused, Belmonte has a rare gift; an elephantine memory which enables him to be on top of every program, every progress of work, and every Situation in managing with utmost transparency and efficiency the affairs of Quezon City.

In 2003 Belmonte was chosen as the “Most Outstanding City Mayor in the Philippines,” an accolade he strives to live up to every day. (Mr. Banawis is a freelance writer).

c/o Mike Tan

jhaelsin

[center]BUSINESS HUBS OF THE CITY : TODAY AND THE FUTURE

Eastwood Cyberpark





Araneta Center





"Quezon City Central Business District" - North,East Triangle Areas, SM North Edsa Compound and Veterans Memorial Medical Center...





c/o Mike Tan