Quezon City at a Glance

The Govenrment 

Government Quezon City is governed by a mayor and a vice mayor elected to three-year terms. The Mayor is the chief executive, while the Vice Mayor is the presiding officer of the legislative body, called the City Council or Sangguniang Panglungsod.  The Council has 36 regular council members who are joined by the president of the city chapter of the Liga ng mga Barangay and the president of the Panglunsod na Pederasyon ng Sangguniang Kabataan.  The chief executive of the present administration is Mayor Herbert Constantine M. Bautista while the Vice-Mayor is Josefina G. Belmonte. Quezon City is divided into 142 barangays organized into six congressional districts where each district is represented by a congressman in the House of Representatives. Mayors of the City

Mission and Vision

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MAYOR TERM

• Tomas B. Morato  1939 – 1942
• Ponciano A. Bernardo  1947 – 1949
•  Nicanor A. Roxas  1949 – 1950
• Ignacio Santos Diaz  1950 – 1953
• Norberto S. Amoranto  1954 – 1976
• Adelina S. Rodriguez  1976 – 1986
• Brigido R. Simon, Jr.  1986 – 1992
• Ismael A. Mathay Jr.  1992 – 2001
• Feliciano R. Belmonte Jr.  2001 – 2010
• Herbert Constantine M. Bautista  2010 – present

Quezon City Logo

Quezon City was founded under the Commonwealth Act No. 502. It was then on July 17, 1948 when President Elpidio Quirino signed into a law the Republic Act No. 333 that makes Quezon City as the capital of the Republic of the Philippines. In the same year, the Philippine Heraldry Commission and was attested by then Executive Secretary Emilio Abello prepared and approved the official seal of Quezon City.

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The seal then has a design of a shield divided diagonally into two parts, one side in red and the other side blue. The center of is overlaid the profile of the City’s founder, President Manuel L. Quezon in an oval frame. It is enclosed by a circular border with the LUNGSOD QUEZON as the text above and SAGISAG NA OPISYAL below.

August 1, 1974, the Acting Cultural Officer Francisco B. Alvarez wrote then to the City Mayor Norberto S. Amoranto that the Quezon City seal has been outdated and archaic in design and symbolism and then suggested to remodel or redesign a new seal for Quezon City. It is then when Mayor Amoranto endorsed the proposed design to Architect Luciano V. Aquino for his comments and recommendation. Architect Aquino then approved the design with some modifications he himself made.

September 11, 1974, Mayor Amoranto forwarded the newly proposed design of the seal of Quezon City to the Philippine Heraldry Commission, Office of the President, for approval. Upon the recommendation of Dr. Galo B. Ocampo, Technical Adviser on Heraldy, the new coat-of-arms was approved. The approval was signed by then Assistant Exec. Sec. Roberto V. Reyes.

February 3, 1975, a Resolution No. 10320 S-75 was passed by the City Council adopting the new coat-of-arms for Quezon City as approved by the Office of the President.When President Marcos issued Presidential Decree No. 940 on May 7, 1976, changing Quezon City of its distinction as the capital of the country and restoring the title to Manila, the text in Quezon City’s coat-of-arms PUNONG BAYAN NG PILIPINAS was also changed to REPUBLIKA NG PILIPINAS, the KALAKHANG MAYNILA and the present PILIPINAS

Heraldic Description of the Seal of Quezon City

The coat-of-arms of Quezon City has its own features and design and with different meaning:“An equilateral triangle divided azure and gules superimpose the silhouette of the Quezon Memorial Monument argent with the lamp of Knowledge argent over the azure field dexter and the gavel argent over the field of gules sinister. On the apex of the triangle are three mullets or over a border agent.”

“The text LUNGSOD NG QUEZON and PILIPINAS completed the border of arms.”“

To help the layman understand above heraldic description of the Quezon City coat-of-arms, the dictionary meaning of the technical terms used are given below:

· azure – of the heraldic color blue
· gules – the heraldic color red
· argent – n. silver of a coat-of-arms, represented in a drawing or engraving by a plain white surface, symbolical of purity, beauty, etc. adj. silvery white; resembling silver; bright silver
· dexter – appearing or facing toward the right and considered a good omen
· sinister – to or toward the left
· mullet – in heraldry, a star of five points or more

The three pylons of the silhouette of the Quezon Memorial Monument represent Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The star suggests the greatness of the late President Manuel L. Quezon while the gavel represent his incomparable leadership. The lamp of knowledge also symbolizes educational development of the city. The colors of the seal are also patterned after the Philippine Flag.

The Mayor 

HERBERT CONSTANTINE MACLANG BAUTISTA

Mayor, Quezon City, 2010 – 2016 Chairman, Management Committee
Chairman, Executive Committee 
Chairman, Quezon City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council 
Chairman, Environment Policy Management Council 
Chairman, Quezon City School Board 
Chairman, Literacy Coordinating Council of Quezon City
President, 2010-2016, League of Cities of the Philippines

Mayor Herbert M Bautista is known as a pioneer and progressive advocate of solutions for environment issues and climate change. Under his leadership, Quezon City became the first city in the Philippines to implement a Green Building Ordinance, enforcing sustainable building designs throughout the city. He has mandated a greening program as a component of all road and real estate development projects. He is leading the city to reduce its carbon footprint through the shift of public facilities towards alternative energy sources, wider installation of systems for resource reuse, and restrictions in the use of nonbiodegradable materials such as plastic bags. His climate change mitigation activism has led to the recognition of the city's success stories in global forums and international movements, where he is recognized as a pioneer and a strong advocate of environmental and disaster-risk reduction programs.

Mayor Bautista's urban development framework anchors the City’s housing and resettlement program on disaster-risk reduction as well as quality of life enrichment. The priority is to move the poor from danger areas towards new townships, a project he is implementing in multiples, in collaboration with the private sector and national government agencies.

He has led the city towards the formulation and adoption of systematic frameworks for development that are aligned with the perspectives of the present and future vision of the city. These foundations are the new Comrehensive Development Plan, the product of the democratized participation of the City Development Council; the new Comprehensive Land Use Plan which has resulted in the Amended Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance of 2013. He has also actively pushed for the city's enacment of an Investment Incentives Code, for the city to further stimulate the influx of desirable investments.

Mayor Bautista is probably one of the youngest officials of the Philippines who have had a long and fruitful experience in government and the youth movement.

He was elected into Office in May 2010 and reelected by a landslide for another term in 2013. Concurrently, he is the public relations officer for the National Capital Region of the League of Cities of the Philippines, as well as Chairman of the Social Development Committee of the Regional Development Council of the Metro Manila Development Authority.

Prior to being Mayor, he was Vice Mayor of Quezon City for 12 years, leading the City Council to enact landmark ordinances for children, senior citizens, indigents, environmental protection, and many others, including the pioneering Green Building Ordinance.

His representation and advocacy of the youth sector is extensive. Mayor Herbert Bautista’s 25 years in local government service, started when he was Barangay Youth Leader at 17. From 1986 to 1989, he was President of the Kabataang Barangay National Federation and was appointed ex-officio City Councilor representing the Youth Sector of Quezon City. From 1992 to 1995, he was elected Councilor of Quezon City and was concurrently Chairperson of the Committee on Tourism and Cultural Affairs. From 1999 to 2001, he was appointed by the President of the Philippines as the Commission-at-Large of the National Youth Commission.

He was Vice Mayor of Quezon City for three terms, from 2001 to 2010, but previously already been Vice Mayor from 1995 to 1998, having been the youngest elected vice mayor of the City in 1995 at 27 years old.

In 1992, he graduated from the San Beda College of Manila with a baccalaureate degree in Philosophy and Letters. He was adjudged Most Outstanding Centennial Bedan Alumnus in recognition of his sterling contribution and leadership in civil governance and politics. He also has a Master's of Arts degree in Public Administration from the University of the Philippines National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP- NCPAG).

Mayor Bautista is also an alumnus of the National Defense College of the Philippines where he obtained his Master's degree in National Security Administration. He is working towards his Doctorate degree in Political Science (International Studies and Development) from the University of the Philippines.

In 2010, he was invited by the World Bank to take the course, “Leadership in Local Government: Decision, Action, Results (DARE) Program,” a Joint Training Program of the Singapore-World Bank Institute and the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. In 2012, he was invited by the Singapore Government for a leadership course at the Temasek University where he led the Quezon City team to tackle the problems of socialized housing in Quezon City, adapting best practices from other parts of the world.

Background in Politics and Governance
2010 to present City Mayor, Quezon City 2010 to present Public Relation Officer for National Capital region, League of Cities Philippines 2009 to present Excecutive Vice Chairman, Liberal Party Quezon City chapter 2004 to present Chairman, Social Development committee, Regional Development Council, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) 2004 to 2010 Chairman, Vice Mayor's League of the Philippines National Capital Region Chapter 2001 to 2010 City vice mayor and Presiding Officer, Quezon City Council 2002 to 2009 Executive Vice Chairman, LAKAS-CMD Quezon City Chapter 2001 to 2004 National President, National Movement of Young Legislators 2001 to 2004 Assistant Secretary General, Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) 1999 to 2001 Commissioner-at-Large, National Youth Commission, Office of the President, Malacañang Palace 1995 to 1998 City Vice Mayor and Presiding Officer, Quezon City 1992 to 1995 City Councilor, Third Legislative District, Quezon City and concurrently Chairman of the Quezon City Council Committee on Tourism and Cultural Affairs 1989 to 1992 Ex-official Quezon city Councilor, Youth Sector 1986 to 1992 President, Kabataang Barangay National Federation 1985 Member, Quezon City Executive Council
President, Kabataang Barangay Metro Manila Federation
President, Kabataang Barangay Quezon City Federation 1985 Chairman, Kabataang Barangay, Immaculate Conception, Cubao, Quezon City

Socio-Civic Activities
 

2007 to present Member, Board of Governors, Philippine National Red Cross 2007 to present Member, Capitol Jaycees of the Philippines 2005 to present Honorary Chairman, Central District Fire and Rescue Volunteer Brigade, Inc. 2002 to present 1st Vice President, Quezon City - YMCA, Inc. 2001 to present Member, REACT Philippines (NCR Chapter) 1994 to present Member, Rotary Club of Kamuning, Rotary District 378 2009 to 2010 President, Rotary Club of Kamuning, Rotary District 3780 1998 Honorary Member, Quezon City Achiever Lions Club 1993 to 1996 Director, YMCA Philippines
Chairman, Finance Committee, YMCA Philippines
Vice Chairman, Youth Affairs Committee, YMCA Philippines 1990 to 1996 Director and PRO, QC-YMCA, Inc.

Military Service
 

2007 to present Brigade Commander, 1502nd Ready Reserve Brigade, 15th Reserve Infantry Division, Philippine Army, Armed Forces of the Philippines 2000 to present Lt. Col., 1502nd Ready Reserve Brigade, Philippine Army, Armed Forces of the Philippines 2005 to 2006 Command and General Staff Course, Command and General Staff College of the Philippines, Armed Forces of the Philippines