IN celebration of International Women’s Day and National Women’s Month, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte reaffirmed her dedication to advancing programs and initiatives that empower women and foster their growth and success.
During her State of the Women’s Address (SOWA), Belmonte highlighted the city government’s continuous efforts to create inclusive opportunities for women through economic empowerment, education, and healthcare.
Economic Empowerment Belmonte reported a significant increase in women-led businesses in Quezon City. According to the city’s online business registry, the number of female entrepreneurs has grown by over 4,000 since 2021.
“Today, out of 70,000 registered businesses in the city, 40% are led by women, providing jobs for more than 200,000 QCitizens,” Belmonte said.
Various livelihood programs such as Pangkabuhayang QC, POP QC, Tindahan ni Ate Joy, SIGA, and SIGAP have expanded their reach, benefiting more than 14,000 women in 2024, up from 11,000 in 2023. Additionally, through the Quezon City Public Employment Service Office (PESO), the local government has facilitated employment for over 31,000 women, helping them secure stable income sources.
Education as the Great Equalizer Recognizing the role of education in breaking barriers, Belmonte emphasized the city’s efforts to expand learning opportunities for women.
“As we introduce more courses at Quezon City University, enrollment continues to grow. Out of more than 3,000 graduates last year, 63% were women, now ready to contribute to the workforce,” she shared.
Currently, over 204,000 female students are enrolled in Quezon City’s public elementary and secondary schools, comprising 48% of the total student population from elementary to Grade 12. Additionally, from 2019 to 2024, more than 39,000 scholars—64% of whom are women—have received financial aid for their senior high school, college, and postgraduate studies.
Advancing Women’s Health Addressing health challenges faced by women, Belmonte underscored the city’s commitment to tackling leading causes of death among women, such as hypertension, pneumonia, and diabetes.
“We are providing free medical check-ups, maintenance medicines, pneumococcal vaccines, and nutrition education in health centers,” she said.
Quezon City also became the first local government unit to pass the Integrated Cancer Control Ordinance, adopting a whole-of-society approach to cancer prevention, treatment, and support.
Addressing Violence Against Women (VAW) Belmonte raised concerns over the alarming rise in Violence Against Women (VAW) cases, which increased from 7,000 in 2022 to over 10,000 in 2024, with more than 4,000 victims reporting psychological abuse.
To combat this, the city government continues to strengthen information campaigns and promote Helpline 122 to encourage victims to report abuse.
A Call for Gender Equality While Quezon City has made great strides in championing women’s rights, Belmonte stressed that the fight for gender equality is far from over.
“The fight for gender equality is not just a women’s fight—it is a fight for all of us. Whether you are a woman or a man, young or old, regardless of background, we must work together for a city where every woman has a voice, dignity, freedom, and equal opportunities to succeed,” she concluded.
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