A WOMEN’S group on Monday honored Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte for championing women’s rights and welfare.
Nere Guerrero, Gabriela-Quezon City Alliance of Filipino Women chairperson, presented Belmonte with “Dangal ng Kababaihang Lider sa Serbisyo Publiko” award as part of the celebration of the National Women’s Month.
“This is a great honor, something that will further inspire me to fight for the rights of every woman,” Belmonte said during the group’s general assembly held at the Quezon City Museum.
“We know we have a lot more to do because there are still many women out there who are in difficult situations and we have to help them,” she added.
Guerrero cited the vice mayor’s “valuable contribution in the advancement of women’s welfare and in the advocacy of women empowerment in Quezon City.”
Belmonte credited the efforts of Gabriela and other progressive women’s rights movements for helping the country as among the top 10 nations around the world in terms of gender equality.
“Also, compared in the past, women are now more empowered to speak up about their rights and fight all forms of discrimination, abuse, and harassment,” she said.
In 2010, Gabriela awarded Belmonte with “Gawad Lingkod Masa” for her works in helping and protecting distressed women.