QUEZON City Mayor Joy Belmonte announced on Thursday the approval of the city’s P43.3-billion budget for 2026.
This year’s budget is 6.65-percent higher than last year’s P40.6 billion. The mayor said the additional funds would prove beneficial in improving the city’s community facilities, as well as education and economic programs.
Belmonte said a significant portion of the budget, amounting to more than P24 billion, would be used for social welfare, environmental protection, health services, and education.
“This will continue to support key programs like financial assistance, medical and other health care support services, QCity Bus, and burial assistance, among others,” she added.
Belmonte said the budget reflects the city’s commitment to improving the productivity and quality of life of its residents.
The education budget was increased to P6.1 billion from last year’s P6 billion. She said this would mean more scholarships, school improvements, teacher development, and learning programs.
The city council, under its presiding officer, Vice Mayor Gian Sotto, increased the infrastructure budget to P7.1 billion from P6.9 billion to support land acquisition for housing initiatives, including the Socialized Housing Program.
Other projects that would benefit from the larger allocations include the rehabilitation of barangay halls and the construction of green spaces, multipurpose buildings, covered courts, health centers, sports complexes, and auditoriums.
Belmonte said some P2 billion was allocated for the economic sector to fund infrastructure maintenance in public markets, livelihood caravans, and flagship programs such as Start-UP QC, Pangkabuhayan QC, and the QC Entrepreneurship Program.
“By investing in all of these programs, we are ensuring that every QCitizen, across all sectors, has access to the support and opportunities they need to live with dignity and security,” Belmonte said.