Quezon City, as a highly urbanized and highly competitive city, has “a very huge responsibility in addressing climate change,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said during her recent State-of the-Environment Address via her official Facebook page.
“As we continue to grow, our need for resources, such as energy and water, also increases. The result of this is to have more greenhouses that contribute to climate change,” she said.
“Since my assumption as (mayor) in 2019, I have already included climes change and environmental protection in my 14-point agenda — to build a livable, green and sustainable city,” Belmonte stressed.
The mayor said the government declared a climate emergency in Quezon City, giving way for the allocation of 11 to 13 percent of the city’s yearly budget in programs related to climate change, reduction of carbon emissions, and other environmental concerns.
According to Belmonte, several of the city’s climate change measures were the implementation of the trash- to-cashback program; deployment of 100 electric buses in eight routes and more than 200 electric tricycles; creation of the Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Department; provision of a livable community for the residents; ban of plastic use, and use of solar energy in the city hall buildings.
She disclosed the city would extend the 90-kilometer bike network along major thoroughfares to 350 kilometers by 2030, and to field more electric buses and tricycles.
The local government renovated pathways to become pedestrian-friendly and add more green spaces; adopted the vote-to-tote to program wherein election tarpaulins used in 2022 were converted into bags by persons derived of liberty at the Quezon City Jail Female Dormitory and other communities, and planted trees in open parks, she cited.
Quezon City was a recipient of assistance from the United Kingdom government and the C40 Cities, a network of mayors in different counties collaborating to deliver urgent action to climate crisis.
A four-story evacuation center in Barangay Bagong Silangan is being constructed for families affected by flood, while a rainwater collection system is being harvested.
“Under my administration, we will intensively protect the environment to address the challenges of climate change,” she said.
“Above all, the success we achieve is the result of the support of our QCitizens,” Belmonte emphasized.