Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte, Jr. is formerly the Mayor of Quezon City from 2001 to 2010 and now he is the Congressman of the Fourth District of Quezon City. Yesterday, before President Benigno Simeon Aquino III announced his first State Of The Nation Address (SONA), Congressman Sonny Belmonte elected as the newly Speaker of the House of Representatives at 15th Session Congress together with Juan Ponce Enrile as the Senate President as everybody expected. Sonny Belmonte took the chair of the oath taking of the new House Members.
Congressman Belmonte from Liberal Party won the majority from house of the member with 227 votes against 29 votes for Deputy Majority Floor leader Representative Edcel Lagman (Albay) from the Lakas-Kampi-CMD, a political party of Gloria Arroyo. As the traditional approached, the nominated candidates cannot vote for themselves. Congressman Sonny Belmonte cast his votes to his opponent Edcel Lagman. The congress session opened at 10AM. There are a total of 258 House members attended in preparation for the first SONA held exactly at 4PM yesterday. The representative Gloria Mapacagal Arroyo were not able to attend on the said session as to her early announcement that she will accompanied his husband for checkup however, the two sons Mikey Arroyo and Dato Arroyo attended the congress.
In my part, I am in favor of Mr. Sonny Belmonte to be the House Speaker as he is a tested lawmaker and his work is noticeable.His work ethics is already proven by his colleague and his record remains clean up to these days. As to what Bernadette Herrera called Belmonte a “Miracle Man” who can make use of his broad experience to address the needs of the legislative agenda in the Philippines.
Seven years of prudent fiscal management, aggressive tax management strategies, as well as increasing efficiency and growing discipline in the management and use of our resources has made Quezon City one of the most competitive cities in the Philippines today.
At the center of economic competitiveness
As a result of Belmonte’s leadership, Quezon City’s reputation as a model of best practices is recognized in the local and international community.