Senate cites QC's top city status

Sen. Mar Roxas, president of the Liberal Party (LP), has lauded Quezon City for its inclusion in the list of Asia's top 10 cities.

"Given the recent downgrades issued separately by the US Federal Aviation Administration and Freedom House on two distinct but important matters, this new achievement of the Quezon City government is a beacon of hope not just for its residents but for all Filipinos," Roxas said.

The senator commended the leadership of Quezon City Mayor Feliciano "Sonny" Belmonte for the good marks bestowed by international respondents to The Financial Times-commissioned survey.

"This makes us in the LP doubly proud to have the Quezon City government as our partner in the party's very first community service program, on January 30," Roxas said.

The LP will hold a day-long activity comprised of medical and dental missions, skills and livelihood training plus a town hall meeting as part of the party's anniversary celebration. This will be held in Barangay Commonwealth, with Belmonte and other local officials as special guests.

"We are actively seeking partnerships with exemplary local governments to push our agenda of putting people first. This will now be a regular activity of the LP and our tie-ups will not be based on partisan ties but on direct service to the community," Roxas explained.

Based on a survey commissioned by London's The Financial Times, Quezon City was ranked number 7 among more than 200 Asian cities as one of the top 10 Asian Cities of the Future.

This means that the city under Belmonte's leadership joined the ranks of Hong Kong, Singapore and Taipei as safe and progressive destinations in Asia.

Consistently figuring in the top 10 and practically outranking other Philippine cities except in one category, Quezon City was assessed No. 5 in the category, "Best Economic Potential." It was third best in Asia in terms of "Cost Effectiveness," sixth best in terms of "Best Human Resources," and tenth best in terms of "Quality of Life."

Roxas said the LP under his leadership has decided to defer the anniversary celebration from January 19 to January 30 give party representatives ample time to spend the congressional break with their constituents.

The LP president declined to comment on the "bogus" anniversary celebration staged by Environment Secretary Lito Atienza today at the Tent in Manila Hotel.

"The offer of unity stands, but never at the expense of the LP's independence and principles," Roxas said.