Quezon city: Mayor Joy Belmonte on Monday emphasized there is no room for corruption at city hall, reiterating the critical role of city hall employees in the success of Quezon City's programs and policy execution.
According to Philippines News Agency, during the celebration of 'Employees Day' as part of the city's 86th founding anniversary, Belmonte pledged to uphold "good governance" and warned that any employees found engaging in bribery or acting as fixers will face immediate legal action. The city is implementing a 'zero tolerance' policy against corruption.
Belmonte stated, "Kung kayo po ay mahuli, strike one pa lang, naging fixer, humingi ng lagay, kayo po ay kakasuhan ko po. Promise. Kung may pangako po ako sa inyo yan ang promise ko sa inyo. Wala pong puwang para sa katiwalian sa QC (If you are caught, even if you strike one, become a fixer, ask for money, I will sue you. Promise. If I make a promise to you, that is my promise to you. There is no room for corruption in QC). And you will pay with the full force of the law."
She emphasized the importance of public trust in the government, noting that the actions of a few should not undermine the hard work of the many. Belmonte expressed profound appreciation for the 19,000 city government employees, recognizing them as 'unsung heroes' who diligently serve their constituents.
Belmonte encouraged employees to pursue further education and civil service eligibility to secure permanent positions and advance in their careers. She pointed out a significant shift in the city's organizational culture, moving away from endorsements and the backer system for hiring.
"If you have a recommendation letter from a councilor, from judges, and influential people, it's automatic that you cannot be considered for promotion," Belmonte stated, highlighting the transition to a merit-based system. This approach has led to the regularization of 3,145 employees and the promotion of 2,015 others based on job performance.
The mayor also urged employees to utilize free training programs in leadership, governance, digital transformation, and ethics, as well as to take advantage of the annual PHP15,000 mental health benefit. "At dahil ang buwan ng Oktobre ay World Mental Health Month, gusto ko rin nating bigyang-diin, may available tayong mental health support para sa ating hanay (And since October is World Mental Health Month, I also want to emphasize that we have mental health support available for our ranks)," she said.
Belmonte encouraged employees to use these resources, acknowledging the stress of their work, and stressed the importance of mental health care to enhance their service to the public.
