Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte(Screengrab) MANILA - The Quezon City government recorded its biggest tax collection in history despite the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic that pulled down business enterprises nationwide. Mayor Joy Belmonte reported on Monday during her State of the City Address that the city collected PHP22 billion in taxes to add to the PHP24.6 billion savings prior to the pandemic. "Sa kabila ng dagok ng Covid-19 sa ekonomiya ng QC, na-itala natin ang pinakamataas na koleksyon na nasa PHP22 bilyon sa nakalipas na taon. Ito ang pinakamataas na koleksyon, hindi lamang sa buong bansa, kundi sa buong kasaysayan ng ating lungsod (Despite the effect of Covid-19 in QC's economy, we recorded the highest collection of PHP22 billion last year. This is the highest collection in the country and in the history of our city)," Belmonte said. The city also retained its good financial standing and remained debt-free. "Dahil dito, ang QC ang may pinakamalaking halaga ng assets, katulad ng mga donated land, buildings at mga kalsada, na ngayon ay mahigit na sa PHP451 billion (Because of this, QC has the biggest amount of assets such as donated lands, buildings, and roads, that are now valued at PHP451 billion)," she said. Belmonte also proudly bared that QC earned an "unqualified opinion" from the Commission on Audit (COA) for 2020 - another first for the city. The unqualified opinion is the highest audit opinion that COA can render to a government agency, including a local government unit. It means the city has managed its funds in a prudent manner and through careful spending and proper safeguarding of funds. Belmonte said that even before the pandemic, the city government was able to establish strict guidelines, which officials ensured are implemented without exemptions. The establishment of the Internal Audit Service through an Executive Order ensured that every peso is spent wisely, practicing transparency, accountability and integrity, Belmonte said. The mayor also boasted of the successful digitalization of most QC services that broadened the reach of the local government, reaching even remote areas. Covid-19 response The surge of Covid-19 cases, inevitable for the biggest city in the country, was dealt with and cases are a decline - only 3,645 active infections from as high as at least 10,000 during the past two months. The vaccination program has also administered complete doses to more than 1.6 million or 98 percent of the 1.7 million target while minors with comorbidities aged 12 to 17 are already included. To further contain the spread of the virus, the city has put up 23 community testing sites while its molecular laboratory located in Teachers Village East can now process up to 1,500 tests daily. Livelihood programs As the pandemic has yet to be fully contained, the Pangkabuhayang QC Program continues to aid the business sector, with almost 2,000 start-up enterprises already assisted. Through the Grow QC Food Security Program, the city government helped build 300 urban farms, 70 aquaculture sites, and assisted 2,238 urban farmers in a total farm area of 340,000 square meters. Belmonte attributed all the achievements to the trust of their constituents and the modern-day heroes that silently help amid the Covid-19 pandemic. "Ang kwento ng QC ay kwento ng pagsisikap ng ating mga mamamayan. Inaako nila ang responsibilidad na iligtas, i-angat at itaguyod ang kapwa at pamayanan. Ang bagong kwento ng Quezon City ay kwento ng kabayanihan at bayanihan, kwento ng sakripisyo at damayan (The story of QC is the story of the struggles of its constituents. They assumed the responsibility to save and uplift the community. The new story of QC is the story of heroism, story of sacrifices, and helping one another)," Belmonte said. (PNA) }

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Manila , Philippines , , Pangkabuhayang Qc Program , Audit Service , Grow Qc Food Security Program , Commission On Audit , Quezon City , Joy Belmonte , City Address , Internal Audit Service , Executive Order , Teachers Village East , Security Program , Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte Screengrab Manila The Government Recorded Its Biggest Tax Collection In History Despite Coronavirus Disease 2019 Covid 19 Pandemic That Pulled Down Business Enterprises Nationwide Reported On Monday During Her State Of Address Collected Php22 Billion Taxes To Add Php24 6 Savings Prior Quot Sa Kabila Ng Dagok Ekonomiya Qc , A Itala Natin Ang Pinakamataas Na Koleksyon Nasa Php22 Bilyon Sa Nakalipas Taon Ito , Indi Lamang Sa Buong Bansa , Undi Sa Buong Kasaysayan Ng Ating Lungsod Despite The Effect Of Covid 19 In Qc 39s Economy , E Recorded The Highest Collection Of Php22 Billion Last Year This Is In Country And History Our City , Uot Belmonte Said The City Also Retained Its Good Financial Standing And Remained Debt Free Quot Dahil Dito , Ng Qc Ang May Pinakamalaking Halaga Assets , Atulad Ng Mga Donated Land , Uildings At Mga Kalsada , A Ngayon Ay Mahigit Na Sa Php451 Billion Because Of This , C Has The Biggest Amount Of Assets Such As Donated Lands , Buildings , Land Roads , Hat Are Now Valued At Php451 Billion , Uot She Said Belmonte Also Proudly Bared That Qc Earned An Quot Unqualified Opinion From The Commission On Audit Coa For 2020 Another First City Is Highest Can Render Toa Government Agency , Ncludinga Local Government Unit It Means The City Has Managed Its Funds Ina Prudent Manner And Through Careful Spending Proper Safeguarding Of Belmonte Said That Even Before Pandemic , He City Government Was Able To Establish Strict Guidelines , Hich Officials Ensured Are Implemented Without Exemptions The Establishment Of Internal Audit Service Through An Executive Order That Every Peso Is Spent Wisely , Racticing Transparency , Ccountability And Integrity , Elmonte Said The Mayor Also Boasted Of Successful Digitalization Most Qc Services That Broadened Reach Local Government , Eaching Even Remote Areas Covid 19 Response The Surge Of Cases , Nevitable For The Biggest City In Country , As Dealt With And Cases Area Decline Only 3 , 645 Active Infections From As High At Least 10 , 000 During The Past Two Months Vaccination Program Has Also Administered Complete Doses To More Than 1 6 Million Or 98 Percent Of 7 Target While Minors With Comorbidities Aged 12 17 Are Already Included Further Contain Spread Virus , He City Has Put Up 23 Community Testing Sites While Its Molecular Laboratory Located In Teachers Village East Can Now Process To 1 , 500 Tests Daily Livelihood Programs As The Pandemic Has Yet To Be Fully Contained , He Pangkabuhayang Qc Program Continues To Aid The Business Sector , Ith Almost 2 , 000 Start Up Enterprises Already Assisted Through The Grow Qc Food Security Program , He City Government Helped Build 300 Urban Farms , 0 Aquaculture Sites , Nd Assisted 2 , 238 Urban Farmers Ina Total Farm Area Of 340 , 000 Square Meters Belmonte Attributed All The Achievements To Trust Of Their Constituents And Modern Day Heroes That Silently Help Amid Covid 19 Pandemic Quot Ang Kwento Ng Qc Ay Pagsisikap Ating Mga Mamamayan Inaako Nila Responsibilidad Na Iligtas , I Angat At Itaguyod Ang Kapwa Pamayanan Bagong Kwento Ng Quezon City Ay Kabayanihan Bayanihan , Wento Ng Sakripisyo At Damayan The Story Of Qc Is Struggles Its Constituents They Assumed Responsibility To Save And Uplift Community New Heroism , Tory Of Sacrifices , Nd Helping One Another , Uot Belmonte Said Pna ,